Put You Hands Together - Handwashing Video

Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands. From doorknobs to animals to food, harmful germs can live on almost everything. Handwashing may be your single most important act to help stop the spread of infection and stay healthy.

Check out this great Video from the CDC-
Put Your Hands Together

www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/

Source: National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases (NCPDCID) and National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (NCZVED) Running Time: (3:38)

National Handwashing Week: Dec. 2 - 8

December 2 – 8 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. Keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness.

Wash Your Hands: The Right Way:

When washing hands with soap and water:

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 15-20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands. Alcohol-based hand rubs significantly reduce the number of germs on skin and are fast acting.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

• Apply product to the palm of one hand.
• Rub hands together.
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.

Storage and Dispensing of Hand Care Products

Handwashing products, including plain (i.e., nonantimicrobial) soap and antiseptic products, can become contaminated or support the growth of microorganisms. Liquid products should be stored in closed containers and dispensed from either disposable containers or containers that are washed and dried thoroughly before refilling. Soap should not be added to a partially empty dispenser, because this practice of topping off might lead to bacterial contamination. Store and dispense products according to manufacturers’ directions.

Ref. CDC Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings — 2003

Hand Washing Posting Advisory

Have you received a “Hand Washing Posting Advisory” from a “Healthcare Compliance Center”?

CDC has received reports from healthcare facilities (including dental offices) in several states that the healthcare facilities have been receiving “Hand Washing Posting Advisory” advertisements from state “Healthcare Compliance Centers” concerning hand washing signage. Please be advised that this is not a CDC activity. The CDC Guideline for Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings and accompanying educational materials are available at the Hand hygiene home page (http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene).

Please note that the Guideline as well as all educational materials developed by CDC are in the public domain and may be downloaded, copied (without alteration), and distributed free of charge. CDC is encouraging healthcare facilities who have additional questions about this advertisement to contact their state/local health department.

Ref. Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings

Free Handwashing Poster

Here is a free high quality poster from the CDC for placing throughout your facility. Shows bugs that can lead to infection and may be found on unclean healthcare worker's hands.

Download English Version PDF (1 page/44KB)

Download Spanish Version PDF (1 page/158KB)

Alcohol-Based Hand Rinses in Dental Offices

Q. Is it acceptable to use alcohol-based hand rinses in dental offices?

A. Yes, in fact, using waterless alcohol-based agents is now considered by the CDC to be the preferred method of skin asepsis. Most formulations contain emollients to soften skin and prevent dryness. Other benefits include rapid and effective antimicrobial action and increased hand asepsis compliance, as these products provide enhanced accessibility and convenience.

However, there are several limitations such as they can not be used if hands are visibly soiled and they should be stored away from high temperatures or flames. In addition, since hand softeners and glove powders may “build-up” on one’s hands, handwashing with soap and water may be needed after every 3-5 applications.

Show Your Infection Control Practices to Your Patients

The general public is becoming increasingly aware of infection control and other safety practices in healthcare. Newspapers, television and radio news carry daily stories on emerging pathogens, antibiotic resistant bacteria, foodborne poisoning, avian influenza, medical errors, etc. Your patients expect that your office is following "state-of-the-art" safety practices and are watching that you implement them consistently.

For example, we have heard about dental offices where a patient calls OSHA with a complaint that they observed their dentist not changing gloves and/or washing their hands before starting their procedure. When we investigate these complaints, we usually find that the dentist changed gloves and washed their hands in another operatory or sink area (i.e. not viewed by the patient). We recommend that you try to change gloves and wash your hands in front of your patient. By demonstrating good infection control practice, your patients will acknowledge that you consider their safety as number one!