Appropriate Appropriate Hand HygieneHand Hygiene

Reduce the Risk

of Getting Sick and Spreading

Germs

New York UniversityNew York University

Environmental Health and SafetyEnvironmental Health and Safety

September 2009 2

Why Should I Why Should I Wash My Hands?Wash My Hands?

Hand Hygiene/Hand Hand Hygiene/Hand Washing is the single most Washing is the single most effective method to reduce effective method to reduce the risk of spreading the risk of spreading germs.germs.

September 2009 3

When Should I When Should I Wash My Hands?Wash My Hands?

Before starting your day, before and after Before starting your day, before and after lunch, and generally, when you feel it lunch, and generally, when you feel it necessary, wash with soap and water.necessary, wash with soap and water.

When hands are dirty, contaminated or When hands are dirty, contaminated or soiled, wash with soap and water. soiled, wash with soap and water. *Especially important after coughing, sneezing or *Especially important after coughing, sneezing or using a tissueusing a tissue

If soap and water are not readily available, If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based (60% or higher) hand-use an alcohol-based (60% or higher) hand-rub for routine scrubbingrub for routine scrubbing

September 2009 4

How Should I How Should I Wash My Hands? Wash My Hands?

Proper Techniques for Hand Proper Techniques for Hand WashingWashing

Step 1Wet hands first Wet hands first

with warm water with warm water *avoid hot water*avoid hot water

September 2009 5

Proper Techniques for Hand Proper Techniques for Hand WashingWashing

Step 2

Apply 3-5 ml (2 - 3 pumps) of soap to Apply 3-5 ml (2 - 3 pumps) of soap to hands.hands.

September 2009 6

Proper Techniques for Hand Proper Techniques for Hand WashingWashing

Step 3Step 3Rub hands together for at least 20 Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds, covering all surfaces of the seconds, covering all surfaces of the hands and in-between fingers.hands and in-between fingers.

September 2009 7

Proper Techniques for Hand Proper Techniques for Hand WashingWashing

Step 4

Rinse hands Rinse hands with water. with water.

..

Step 5

Dry thoroughly Dry thoroughly using paper using paper towels, leaving towels, leaving

faucet on.faucet on.

September 2009 8

Proper Techniques for Hand Proper Techniques for Hand WashingWashing

Step 6

Use a new paper Use a new paper towel to turn off towel to turn off faucet. faucet.

Step 7

Discard used Discard used paper towels in paper towels in trash.trash.

September 2009 9

Remember….Remember….

Source: Source: http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/stopgerms/http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/communicable/stopgerms/posters.aspxposters.aspx

September 2009 10

ResourcesResources• http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/index.html• http://www.nyu.edu/shc/fluhttp://www.nyu.edu/shc/flu• Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Health-care

Settings. MMWR 2002; vol. 51, no. RR-16.• http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/

communicable/influenza/• New York University Student Health Center

http://www.nyu.edu/shc/ • New York University Environmental Health

and Safetywww.nyu.edu/ehs : 212-998-1450