Why hand washing properly should be practiced until it is “muscle” memory/automatic/habitual:
Habits: https://youtu.be/PZ7lDrwYdZc
Effective practice: https://youtu.be/f2O6mQkFiiw
Soap vs. Sanitizer
New_HandWash_Poster (who.int) (I think they dropped the wrists??) – I’m working on making a poster showing all the steps, not just one half (ex. right over left, but doesn’t show left over right)
I do like the Wash Your Lyrics (also good for writing your own custom instructions and has skin tone options). 4 & 8 show both sets, 5-7 & 9 do not.
Step 1 & 2: Wet Hands & Apply Soap (we generally don’t count these steps since it’s fairly obvious if we’ve done them)
Wet your hands and apply enough soap to create a good lather. The temperature of the water should be between 35ºC and 45ºC.
Step 3: Rub Palms Together x 4 times (running count begins)
Rub your hands palm to palm in circular motions. Rotate clockwise and anticlockwise.
Step 4: Rub the Back of Hands – Left over Right & Right over Left x 4 times each (4×3=12, running count)
With your fingers linked through the other hand, use your right palm to rub the back of your left hand. Then swap.
Step 5: Interlink Your Fingers x 4 times (steps 4 and 5 can be swapped, we usually do) (4×4=16, running count)
Link your fingers together, facing each other, into clasped hands. Then rub your palms and fingers together.
Step 6: Cup Your Fingers (Knuckle Coupler) x 4 times each way (4×6=24, running count)
Right hand over left hand, curl fingers so first and second knuckle are into the other palm and last knuckle (at palm) is facing you. Pivot hands, swap to left over right, repeat.
Alternate description: Cup your fingers together, with your right hand over and your left hand under. With your fingers interlocked, rub the backs of them against your palms. Then swap.
Step 7: Clean the Thumbs x 4 times right, x 4 times left (4×8=32, running count)
Enclose your right hand around your left thumb and rub as you rotate it, then swap.
Step 8: Rub Palms with Your Fingers x 4 times each (4×10=40, running count)
Rub your fingertips in circular motion on your left palm, then swap.
Step 9: Wrists x 4 times each (4×12=48, running count)
Wrap your thumb and pointer finger around your wrist at the base of your palm with the pinky finger closer to your elbow. This ensures the other fingers cover the wrist instead of the back of the hand. Twist to clean wrist, swap. You can also open both hands palm towards you, thumbs out – place wrist into opposing palm, twist, swap.
Those are our 48 steps for hand washing. We timed doing 3 and then 4 reps. 3 reps we could do in less than 20 seconds going fast. The fastest we could get with 4 reps each was 18 seconds, and generally we’re not trying to go that fast. So, this was how we decided on the number of reps.
20 seconds recommended by CDC based on: The 20-Second Hand-Washing Rule Comes From These 2 Studies (bustle.com)
I can’t find the article that mentioned that using a pattern was more effective than just random movement for 20 seconds.
We tried the song thing and it was getting sung faster and faster….
The Science Behind Washing for 20 Seconds | Visualized Science (clearvuehealth.com)
We used the tune of: Row, row, row your boat
Wash, wash, wash your hands
Get them nice and clean
Wash all of the germies off
Get them nice and clean
Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands
get soapy in between
Wash your fingers and your hands
Get them nice and clean
Rinse, rinse, rinse your hands
rinse the soapies off
Rinse the soap down the drain
Rinse them once again
Shake, shake, shake your hands
Shake the water off
Shake the water down the drain
Shake them once again
Dry, dry, dry your hands
Dry the water off
Dry your palms and each finger
Dry the water off