hand hygiene
By Paul Alper
Hand Hygiene at Home During the Covid-19 Pandemic
A Practical Guide for Healthcare Professionals
N
ow that we are in the middle of this pandemic suddenly thrust upon us, making
hand hygiene — both on and off the job — a matter of utmost importance when
it comes to the health and safety of ourselves and family, it seems like a practical guide
to hand hygiene at home might make sense and be helpful.
What does the CDC and WHO Say About Hand
Hygiene in the Context of Covid-19?
There is a link
for how to make
homemade
hand sanitizer
in the reference
links.
Here is the CDC Hand Hygiene Guidance: “Wash your hands often
with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a
public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
● If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains
at least 60 percent alcohol.
§ Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
● Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.”
Here are the WHO Recommendations for Hand Hygiene in the
Context of Covid-19:
● Wash your hands with soap and running water when hands are visibly dirty.
● If your hands are not visibly dirty, frequently clean them by using alcohol based
handrub [sanitizer] or soap and water.
Protect yourself and others from getting sick. Wash your hands:
● After coughing or sneezing
● When caring for someone who is sick
● Before, during and after you prepare food
● Before eating
● After toilet use
● When hands are visibly dirty
● After handling animals or animal waste
Most public health experts would add the following to the list of “when to
clean hands” in the age of this pandemic and social distancing:
● After leaving the grocery, drug store or any retail environment
● When returning home from any outing
● After handling any delivered items such as boxes, take out deliveries or groceries
Always keep in mind the importance of a full 20-second wash with brisk
scrubbing or rubbing of wrists, thumbs, all sides of and in between the fingers,
fingertips, palms and backs of the hands. Proper technique does matter. This applies
both to soap and water washing as well as sanitizing with an alcohol-based sanitizer.
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may 2020 • www.healthcarehygienemagazine.com