Whether you’re a health care worker, first aid provider, business owner or school facilitator – World Hand Hygiene Day is the perfect opportunity to encourage better hand hygiene in your community.
On the 5th of May 2022 let’s unite together for safety – and promote proper hand washing.
World Hand Hygiene Day 2022
World Hand Hygiene Day is celebrated every year on the 5th of May. The global campaign encourages health workers and all people accessing health services to unite on ensuring clean hands in our communities.
This year’s theme is: “Unite for safety: clean your hands.”
The “clean your hands” campaign shows us how hand washing at the right time with the right facilities and proper techniques can create safe and healthy spaces. The World Health Organisation asks people across the world to talk about and take action for higher quality and safer health care everywhere.
The importance of hand hygiene
Good hand hygiene saves lives. It’s the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection and harmful germs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to practice good hand hygiene. To keep yourself and others healthy, everyone should practice proper hand hygiene at home, in the workplace and in public settings.
Health care workers, business owners and facility coordinators can play an important role promoting better hand hygiene. Educating others about proper hand hygiene and providing the proper hand washing facilities are two excellent steps you can take.
How does hand hygiene prevent infection?
We all have microorganisms on our hands. Some of them are harmless while others can make us sick. When we touch others or touch shared surfaces with infected hands, we can spread harmful microorganisms to others.
Proper hand hygiene reduces the number of microorganisms on our hands. It’s the single most effective way to reduce the spread of infection for health care workers. In workplaces and homes, hand washing is one of the best ways to keep yourself and the people around you healthy.
How to maintain optimal hand hygiene
There are many steps that you can take towards hand hygiene improvement. Promote the following steps towards effective hand hygiene action this World Hand Hygiene Day:
1. Use an alcohol-based hand rub (Healthcare settings)
For health care settings, an alcohol-based hand rub is the preferred method of sanitising your hands. However, if your hands are visibly dirty, you should use soap and water. For surgical procedures, the appropriate surgical scrub is required.
2. Wash hands with soap and water
For non-healthcare settings, the best way to keep your hands clean is by washing them with soap and water. Liquid hand soap is better than bar soap, particularly in shared facilities.
Follow these best practices for hand washing:
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- Place one hand on the other and rub with your fingers interlaced. Repeat with the other hand on top.
- Rub your palms together with your fingers interlaced.
- Interlink your fingers with the back of your fingers resting in the opposite palm. Rub back and forth.
- Hold your thumb with the opposite hand and rub. Repeat on the other side.
- Pinch all your fingers together and rub on the opposite palm. Repeat on the other side.
- Rinse your hands until all the soap is removed.
- Dry your hands completely with a paper towel (preferred) or air dryer.
3. Use anti-bacterial hand gel
In settings where hand washing facilities are not available, you can use a hand sanitiser such as Aerocleanse anti-bacterial hand gel.
Only use hand sanitisers that have an alcohol content of 60% or more. Sanitisers with higher alcohol content are more effective at removing harmful microorganisms from your hands.
Follow these best practices for using hand gel:
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- Use enough product to cover your hands and fingers.
- Rub all over your hands, including between fingers and under rings.
- Keep rubbing until your hands are dry.
4. Cover cuts and wounds
Cuts and open wounds are susceptible to infections. You should cover any cuts and wounds on your hands with an appropriate water resistant dressing.
5. Wear disposable gloves
Wearing Nitrile Gloves when providing health care services and first aid can improve hygiene and reduce the risk of infection. Disposable gloves are particularly important when handling bodily fluids. Do not use gloves that have holes or are damaged.
6. Clean hard surfaces
In health care settings, workplaces and other shared facilities, frequently used surfaces should be cleaned regularly to prevent the spread of infection. This may include: medical equipment, desks, door handles, kitchen facilities, computer equipment and light switches.
Effective products for this purpose include hard surface disinfectant wipes and hospital grade disinfectant.
Stock up on hand hygiene supplies
As World Hand Hygiene Day approaches, it’s important to stock up on the right hand hygiene supplies and facilities. That could include improving access to hand washing facilities, providing touch-free hand gel dispensers or putting up instructional posters about proper hand washing in bathroom and kitchen facilities.
At LFA First Response, we know that proper hand hygiene can create safer communities and save lives. We stock a wide range of medical supplies to support hand hygiene efforts in health care settings, workplaces, schools and more.
Place an order online today or call our customer service team on 1800 681 544 to discuss your needs.
