5 Moments For Hand Washing (Hand Hygiene)

Indicators of Hand Hygiene

Hand washing is the act of cleaning one’s hands with the use of any liquid with or without soap for the purpose of removing dirt or microorganisms. It is the most effective measure in reducing the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.

It cannot be said too often that hand washing is the most important and most basic technique in preventing and controlling infections. It is the single most effective infection control measure.
Hand washing is under the umbrella of hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is defined by the World Health Organization as a general term that applies to hand washing, antiseptic hand wash, antiseptic hand rub or surgical hand antisepsis.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are Five Moments for Hand Hygiene:

1. Before Patient Contact.
2. Before and Antiseptic Task.
3. After Body Fluid Exposure Risk.
4. After Patient Contact.
5. After Contact with Patient Surroundings.

The following materials or equipment are needed to perform hand washing:

• Soap or detergent
• Warm running water
• Paper towels
• Alcohol
• Optional: Antiseptic cleaner, fingernail brush, plastic cuticle stick

5 Moment For Hand Hygiene

Principles and concepts surrounding hand hygiene:

• You must use running water in a sink that drains out instead of using a basin.
• You may use soap – antibacterial soap if necessary.
• You must rub your hands against each other for at least 30 seconds to facilitate removal of microorganisms.
• Long nails and jewelry trap germs. It is best to keep fingernails short. If you wear a ring, it is better not to remove the ring before hand washing so that it can be washed too.
• It is always better to use disposable paper towels than to use cloth towel when drying hands to ensure that you can only use those once.
• The faucet is always considered dirty and it is recommended to turn it off using a paper towel in the absence of the ideal sensor or foot pedal.
• Dispensers of soap should be used until completely empty. Once emptied, it should be washed before refilled.