Hand washing is always an important part of personal hygiene and one of the best ways to decrease the spread of disease, but during a pandemic like we are experiencing now it is absolutely imperative. This week I made a video for Contemporary Clinic Journal on how to wash your hands in 6 steps following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines:
Before starting the six steps, I made a note to make sure your nails are trimmed short with smooth edges. Long nails harbor dirt and microbes and jagged edges provide opportunity for cuts and snags. Before you put soap in your hands, you will first start running the water. Then put enough soap in your hands to cover all surfaces. Each step should take about 10 seconds so that the total amount of wash time is 1 minute.
Step 1: Wash palm-to-palm.
Wash palm to palm in a rotational manner. You should be rubbing enough to create a nice foamy lather.
Step 2: Get the back of your hands.
Wash the backs of your hands by placing the palm of one hand over the back of the other hand and interlacing fingers. Scrub and then repeat to the other hand.
Step 3: Get in between the fingers.
Wash palms with fingers interlaced.
Step 4: Get the backs of your fingers.
Rub backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked. Repeat on the other hand.
Step 5: Get the thumbs.
Rotationally rub the left thumb clasped in the right palm. Repeat this on the other hand.
Step 6: Get finger tips.
Rotationally rub finger tips into the palms of the opposite hand. Repeat on the other hand.
Now you are ready to rinse and dry! Make sure to turn off the faucet with a clean paper towel and then dry your hands off.
Here’s a link to my video published on ContemporaryClinic Journal : https://contemporaryclinic.pharmacytimes.com/videos/the-proper-way-to-wash-your-hands-using-who-guidelines