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HAND WASHING – MEDICAL TECHNIQUE

DEFINITION:
 A vigorous short rubbing together of all the surfaces of soap lathered hands followed by rinsing
under stream of running water
 Considered as single most important and basic preventive technique for interrupting possible
infectious process.

PURPOSE:
 To prevent possible transfer of microorganisms
 To reduce risk of cross contamination among clients

EQUIPMENT:
 Easy – to – reach sink with warm running water
 Liquid soap / soap bar with soap dish
 Paper towels or Hand towel
 Clean orangewood stick (Optional)

STEPS ABLE TO UNABLE TO

PERFORM PERFORM

1. Inspect surface of hands and forearms.

2. Push wristwatch and long uniform sleeves above wrists.

Remove watch and jewelry.

3. Stand in front of sink keeping hands and uniform away

from sink surface.

4. Turn on water. Turn faucet on or push pedals laterally or

press pedals with foot to regulate flow and temperature.

5. Regulate flow of water so that the temperature is warm.

6. Wet hands and wrists thoroughly under running water.

Keep hands and forearms lower than elbows during
washing.

7. Lather hands with liquid soap or if bar soap is used wash

soap and lather hand. If bar soap is accidentally dropped,
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repeat the procedure.

Return bar soap on the soap dish without touching the

dish

8. Wash hands using plenty of lather and friction for at least

10 to 15 seconds.

Right palm over left, left over right.

Palm to palm, fingers interlaced.

Back fingers to opposing fingers interlocked.

Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasped in left palm

and vice versa

Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasped in left palm

and vice versa.

Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards with top of

fingers and thumb of right hand in left and vice versa.

9. Clean areas underlying fingernails with fingernails of

other hand and additional soap or clean orangewood
stick.

10. Rinse hands and wrists thoroughly, keeping hands down

and elbows up.

11. Dry hands thoroughly from fingers to wrists and forearms

with paper towel, single – use cloth, or warm air dryer.

12. If used, discard paper towel in proper receptacle.

13. Turn off water with foot or knee pedals. Use clean, dry
paper towel or clean tissue; avoid touching handles with
hands.

14. If hands are dry or chapped, apply a small amount of

lotion or barrier cream.

Instructor’s Remarks:_________________________________________________________________________________

Total Grade : __________________ Date: ___________________ Instructor’s Signature: __________________

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OPEN GLOVING

DEFINITION:
 It is a method where sterile gloves are worn aseptically.

PURPOSE:
 To prevent any accidental contact of a substance that could carry a blood – borne pathogen
with small breaks in the skin.

EQUIPMENT:
 Sterile gloves (proper size)

STEPS ABLE TO UNABLE TO

PERFORM PERFORM

1. Remove jewelry particularly rings.

2. Wash hands.

3. Remove outer glove package wrapper by carefully

separating and peeling apart.

4. 4. Grasp inner package and lay it on clean, flat surface

just above waist level. Open package, keeping gloves on
wrapper’s inside surface.

5. Identify right and left glove.

6. With thumb and first two fingers of nondominant hand,

grasp edge of cuff of glove for dominant hand. Touch only
glove’s inside surface.

7. Carefully pull glove over dominant hand, leaving cuff and

being sure cuff does not roll up wrist. Be sure thumb and
fingers are in proper spaces.

8. 8. With gloved dominant hand, slip fingers underneath

second glove’s cuff.

9. Carefully pull second glove over nondominant hand. Do

not allow fingers and thumb of gloved dominant hand to
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touch any part of exposed nondominant hand. Keep

thumb of dominant hand abducted back.

10. 10. Interlock fingers of gloved hands, holding hands away

from the body.

GLOVE REMOVAL

1. Grasp outside of one cuff with gloved hand and pull off,
turning glove inside out. Discard glove. Aavoid touching
wrist.

2. Remove remaining glove by placing fingers of bare hand

under cuff and pull off, turning glove inside out. Discard
glove.

Instructor’s Remarks:______________________________________________________________________________

Total Grade : __________________ Date: ___________________ Instructor’s Signature: _____________________