COVID-19 / Coronavirus Outbreak: Guidance for Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Providers to Ensure a Safe and Healthy Environment
Overview
Handwashing is an easy and simple way for healthcare providers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for both themselves and the patient. The following handwashing protocol should be used before and after patient contact.
Procedure
- Wet your hands with lukewarm or warm water.
- Dispense soap.
- Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, making sure to cover your fingers, fingertips, backs of hands, palms, and wrists.
- Rinse your hands
- Dry your hands with paper towels.
- Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.
- Dispose of the paper towel in the trash.
- Hands can also be cleaned by rubbing all hand surfaces with a 70% alcohol hand sanitizer, which is effective at killing most germs and viruses.
NOTE: Do not use solutions with >90% alcohol content, as these are less effective in killing germs and viruses because of premature evaporation from the skin surface.
Disclosures
No conflicts of interest declared.
Tags
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