How to Do Medical Handwashing

It is important to wash your hands, especially within a medical facility. Washing your hands is one of the best preventative methods you can undertake to not spread infections and illnesses to other members within your medical community. If you work within a health care setting, washing your hands is necessary before going from patient to patient. Without properly washing your hands, fatal infections can be spread from patient to patient, and even to you.

Things You'll Need

• Soap as offered by your facility
• Warm water
• Paper towel or hand dryer

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Instructions

Washing Your Hands

• 1

  Turn both sides of the faucet knobs on to provide warm water for your hands. Apply the soap provided by your facility to your hands. Be sure to rub between your fingers and around your hands to produce enough lather with the soap.

• 2

  Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Don't forget areas such as your wrists and the back of your hands. If you have long fingernails, it is important to also wash these areas, as bacteria and viruses can be within your nails.

• 3

  Pointing your hands and fingers downward toward the drain, thoroughly rinse all soap off of your hands, fingers, nails and wrists. Turn the faucet off with your elbows or with a paper towel. Don't ever use your hands to turn off a faucet, as bacteria and viruses could be on the faucet.

• 4

  Remove a paper towel if you have them. Thoroughly dry your hands, especially between your fingers. If you don't have paper towels, use a hand dryer. Use your elbow to turn the dryer on.

• 5

  If you're unable to find a faucet and soap to wash your hands, you can use a hand sanitizer. According to the Mayo Clinic, try to use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

• 6

  To apply a hand sanitizer, pour out an amount about the size of a silver dollar in the palm of your hand. Rub the sanitizer over your hands to completely coat your hands. Be sure to rub the sanitizer into your hands for at least 25 seconds, or until the product completely dries.