Clean hands save lives

-Automatic translation

Hand washing is an important infection control measure because contact, both direct and indirect, is one of the most common ways germs are transmitted between people. Hand hygiene is particularly important in healthcare, as it protects both patients and healthcare professionals and reduces the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

By practising good hand hygiene, we protect ourselves, others, and our environment from disease.

When should you wash or sanitise your hands?

According to guidelines from the Chief Epidemiologist and the World Health Organization (WHO), you should always wash your hands with soap and water when they are visibly dirty, after using the toilet, and before preparing food. If your hands are not visibly dirty, hand sanitiser is an effective way to eliminate microorganisms.

Good advice for proper hand hygiene

• Wet your hands and use a suitable amount of soap.

• Rub all surfaces of your hands, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, your thumbs, and your fingertips, then rinse well.

• Hand washing should take 30–60 seconds (sanitising about 20–30 seconds).

• Dry your hands thoroughly with disposable paper towels, and use a towel to turn off the tap to avoid recontamination.

• Rings and watches can collect germs and make hand hygiene more difficult. It is also recommended to minimise the use of jewellery when providing care.

The Chief Epidemiologist urges everyone, including healthcare staff and the general public, to pay special attention to hand hygiene today. Clean hands prevent infection.

Chief Epidemiologist