How to wash your hands correctly

Washing your hands may seem like one of the most simple, straightforward acts. However, there are so many of us that do not do it when necessary, and those who do often are not using the right technique. Unclean hands are the most common way bacteria is spread, so correct hand-washing is the most effective way to protect yourself and those around you from germs and consequently infection with an array of nasty illnesses, ranging from the common cold. to vomiting and diarrhoea, potentially deadly MRSA . The proper hand-washing technique should take you about 15 seconds and is as follows:

• Wet your hands thoroughly with water
• Apply enough soap or handwash to cover all hand surfaces, including finger-nails and wrists
• Rub hands palm to palm
• Right palm over left  hand with interlaced fingers and vice versa
• Rub hands palm to palm with fingers interlaced
• rub the backs of your right-hand  fingers to your left-hand  palm with fingers interlocked and vice versa
• Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa
• Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa
• Rinse hands with water
• Dry thoroughly with a clean towel.

An instructional video on the correct hand-washing technique

Children should be encouraged into washing hands like this by good example. To make sure they complete the full fifteen second procedure, try telling them they shouldn’t finish washing till they’ve sang the happy birthday song twice. You could always try this too…

To prevent the spread of germs, hand-washing is essential after:

• Using the bathroom
• Blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing
• Handling uncooked foods, particularly raw meat
• take out or handle any rubbish
• touch a sick or injured person
• touch a wound or burn
• touch animals or their waste
• Change a nappy
• Work or play in the garden
• Visit a hospital ward (the alcohol rubs provided are sufficient)