WELLNESS PROJECT: SAVING LIVES, ONE CLEAN HAND AT A TIME

Kristine Mills, RNState University of New York Institute of TechnologyDepartment of Nursing

WHY IS HAND HYGIENE SO IMPORTANTApproximately 722,000 infections occur every year in those hospitalized within the United States. Converted, this data means that for approximately every 25 patients, one will develop an infection. “Healthcare providers should practice hand hygiene at key points in time to disrupt the transmission of microorganisms to patients including: before patient contact; after contact with blood, body fluids, or contaminated surfaces (even if gloves are worn); before invasive procedures; and after removing gloves (wearing gloves is not enough to prevent the transmission of pathogens in healthcare settings)” (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 2014). Hospital acquired infections often are more difficult to treat and can be very dangerous. Hand hygiene is one of the most essential steps in the prevention of the transmission of germs (CDC, 2014).The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), found that hand washing education within the community can help individuals and their communities stay well. This education reduces cold illnesses including the respiratory kind by 21 percent. A reduction of 31 percent of diarrhea illnesses is seen. Lastly, in individuals with a compromised immune system, there is a 58 percent reduction in diarrheal illness (CDC, 2014).

WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS

When to Wash Your Hands. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a bulleted list of when an individual should wash their hands, using proper hand hygiene methods. The list provided below was retrieved directly from the CDC (2014) webpage:

Before, during, and after preparing food Before eating food Before and after caring for someone who is sick

Before and after treating a cut or wound

After using the toilet After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet

After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing

After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste

After handling pet food or pet treats

After touching garbage

HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS

The CDC has recommendations as to how an individual should wash their hands for proper hand hygiene. These recommendations were derived from scientific research which is listed in a link directly below their description of proper hand washing. The CDC has hand washing broken down into five steps (CDC, 2014).

Wet your hands. The CDC

recommends using running water that is

clean, temperature of the water is not of importance. Once wet, stop the water and

start soap application.

Rub your hands together with

soap until foamy. While rubbing, be sure to also tough the

surfaces such as below your

nails, in between all of your fingers,

and the backs of the hands.

Rub your hands together in a

scrubbing motion for a

minimum of 20 seconds. The CDC uses the

“Happy Birthday” song as an example of a timer for

this, stating to sing it from beginning to end twice.

Utilizing running water that is clean to

rinse your hands.

Utilizing a dry towel that is

clean, dry your hands. Hands

may also be left to air dry (CDC,

2014).

HOW TO USE ALCOHOL-BASED SANITIZER

Apply the sanitizer to one

hand, on the palm.

Combine the hands and rub them together.

Make sure to spread and rub the sanitizer all over your hands

and fingers. Keep doing this until the hands

are dry.

The CDC still recommends soap and clean water as the most effect way to remove germs from the hands. However, if either or both are unavailable, alcohol-based sanitizer can be used. The CDC recommends the sanitizer contain at least 60 percent alcohol. Also note that if your hands are dirty to the eye or have a greasy surface, the sanitizer will not be as capable to remove germs from your hands. The CDC has listed three steps to describe how one should apply a hand sanitation liquid. (CDC, 2014).

HAND HYGIENE FACTS PROVIDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 2014

Approximately half of diarrheal related deaths

could be decreased by using hand hygiene methods.

According to research performed in London,

approximately one million deaths a year could be

stopped by routine hand hygiene.

Foodborne illness are for a large portion caused and spread by hands that are contaminated. Practicing

proper hand hygiene could reduce the chance of

contracting a foodborne sickness.

Proper hand hygiene could decrease the risk of

respiratory related illnesses by 16 percent.

A study including 16 elementary schools and 6,000 students, school

absences related to illness were reduced by 19.8

percent by classrooms that utilized an alcohol hand

sanitizer

REFERENCES Allegranzi, B., & Pittet, D. (2009). Role of hand hygiene in healthcare-associated infection

prevention. Journal of Hospital Infection, 73(4), 305-315. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Show me the science – Why wash

your hands? Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/why-handwashing.html National Purity, LLC. (2012). New Hand Washing Survey Reveals Some Gross Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.nationalpurity.com/new-hand-washing-survey-reveals-some-gross-statistics/