Why so much fuss about the importance of cleans hands?
Introduction
Germs, micro-organisms or also called microbes can be found everywhere. Whenever we touch an object, micro-organisms end up on our hands. They are in, on and around us. A large number of them are harmless and even good for our health!
But there are also microbes that can harm our health. Impure hands can carry many germs and transmit diseases from one person to another. The good news is that these germs can be easily removed by applying good hand hygiene.
Caregivers, patients, relatives and visitors all have an important role to play in avoiding infections. Everything starts with clean hands!
HAND HYGIENE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF GERMS IN HEALTHCARE INSTITUTIONS AND IN THE COMMUNITY
The term “hand hygiene” means:
- wash hands with soap and water
- sanitizer hands with hand alcohol. Hand sanitizer dispensers are widely available in the hospital.
Having clean hands is important
- In the hospital, you should apply hand hygiene often, for example:
- after a toilet visit
- before and after a meal
- after coughing, sneezing or blowing a sneeze
- before taking medication, administering eye drops or using an inhaler
- before entering or leaving a room
- Visitors in particular should apply hand hygiene before helping you eat or before and after helping you with body care.
- It is also important to have clean hands in everyday life.
Which product for good hand hygiene?
- If you have the impression that your hands are dirty or when you have been to the toilet, wash your hands with soap and water.
- After washing your hands, close the faucet with a paper towel or your elbow. Do not touch the faucet again with your clean hands.
- If you do not have soiled hands or if a sink is not available, disinfect your hands with hand alcohol. Hand alcohol is safe and also skin-friendly.
- Both when washing and disinfecting hands, apply the technique shown here.
Do not hesitate to ask healthcare providers if they have sanitized their hands
You can affect the care you receive. Before being touched by a doctor, nurse or other healthcare provider, you can kindly ask if the hands have been sanitized. This will remind the healthcare provider of the importance of sanitized hands.
Healthcare providers must sanitize their hands:
- before touching a patient
- before performing a clean/invasive procedure, such as inserting an intravenous catheter, changing a dressing or taking blood
- after contact with bodily fluids (blood, urine, etc.), mucous membranes and broken skin. A healthcare provider must disinfect their hands after removing gloves
- after touching a patient (when ending care and leaving the patient)
- after contact with the patient’s environment
Healthcare providers understand when you remind them to sanitize their hands because they know how important clean hands are for safe care.
Good care starts with friendly communication
