Standard Precautions Introduction Transmission-Based Precautions Hand Hygiene Barrier Protection Sharps Disposal Patient Placement Patient Transport Food and Nutrition Lab Specimens Housekeeping Medical Waste Patient/Visitor Exposures Linen/Laundry Services Medical Emergencies Select Chapter: Chapters Standard Airborne Droplet Contact Disease List Occ. Exposure TB Prevention Sterilization IC Guidelines Reportable Dis. General Info Search Manual: Yale New Haven Hospital QISS GB 325 New Haven, CT 06504 USA Dr. Jeff Topal 688-4634

Handwashing, pg 2 Procedure: Remove all jewelry, including rings. (A plain wedding band is permitted). Run the faucet so that the water is lukewarm, and wet the hands. Use a small amount of liquid soap to cover the hands and wrists. Soap the forearms, if necessary, to cleanse beyond the area of contamination. Use friction. Rub one hand upon the other, and interlace the fingers of both hands, using a back-and-forth motion for at least 15 seconds. Rinse the hands and wrists under running water. Always hold the hands so that they are lower than the elbows to allow water to flow from the fingertips. Dry the hands with a clean paper towel. Use a paper towel to turn off the water faucet.   Last modified: October 2, 2002. Copyright ©2001 Yale New Haven Hospital, Quality Improvement Support Services. All rights reserved. Comments or suggestions to the site editor. Home URL: http://www.ynhh.org