World Hand Hygiene Day 2017 – May 05, 2017
World Hand Hygiene Day takes place on May 05, 2017. This day is declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) for mindfully washing hands world wide. The spirit of the day is to encourage patients and their family members to join health workers in their efforts to practice good hand hygiene. Health care related infections affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide each year. By properly washing their hands, the caregivers could help prevent these infections by transmission. There are key moments in patient care when hand washing is paramount, see these explained below with information from the World Health Organization’s Website.
WHO Hand Hygiene Poster with recommended steps to washing your hands? steps to washing your hands? >>>
WHO when and how leaflet >>>
See map of the WHO global Clean Hands Network >>>
Hand hygiene is not only of importance to care givers and health care workers. Any one in the public service industry should practice good hand washing. This would include:
- restaurant or any food service workers
- cashiers
- delivery service people
- librarians
- sales people
- construction workers
- everyone
People need to wash their hands often. Obvious times to wash hands are:
- before and after eating
- before and after using the bathroom
- before and after food prep and cooking
- after you cover your cough or sneeze, or blow your nose
A thorough hand wash takes at least 15-20 seconds. During this time you rub your hands together in different directions and on all aspects of the hand. Using soap and water is the best. Some instances require other cleansing agents and practices like in hospitals, prep for surgery, and such. A paper towel is best for drying because it will not be contaminated from prior use. Pat skin instead of wiping to avoid chaffing.
It may be obvious that you need to wash your hands as a nurse or care giver and after using the bathroom, but why are other instances important? You wash your hands to remove dirt, grease, chemicals, bacteria and viruses. You wash your hands to protect the next person but you are also protecting yourself.
So if you serve the public, shake hands, clean things or even work outside; cleaning your hands is the best and easiest way to stay health y and stop the spread or diseases including colds and flu.
