Hand Hygiene - Why is it important?

Tuesday 30th November 2021

Hand Hygiene - Best Practices

Hands are a very common route of catching and spreading infections. Hand hygiene is the most important advice issued by WHO and medical leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. We frequently touch our mouth, nose and face and pick up mucus and saliva containing infectious microorganisms, from our mouth, nose, lungs and throat. Our hands can then contaminate common surfaces such as light switches, key pads, kettles, door handles, and taps. Hands also transfer infections in the reverse direction after touching surfaces contaminated by others. 

The solution: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry thoroughly and, as an extra precaution, use hand sanitiser.

NHS Advice

The NHS have some great advice you could try when washing your hands so that you help create a safer and cleaner workspace.

Wash your hands for the amount of time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice (around 20 seconds). Team Summit Hygiene have found this works best when sung very loudly.


Step 1 - Wet your hands with water

Step 2 - Apply enough soap to cover your hands

Step3 - Rub your hands together

Step 4 - Use 1 hand to rub the back of the other hand and clean in between the fingers. Do the same with the other hand

Step 5 - Rub your hands together and clean in between your fingers

Step 6 - Rub the back of your fingers against your palms

Step 7 - Rub your thumb using your other hand. Do the same with the other thumb

Step 8 - Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of your other hand. Do the same with other hand.

Step 9 - Rinse your hands with water

Step 10 - Dry your hands completely with a disposable towel

Step 11 - Use the disposable towel to turn off the tap

Note - If you do not have immediate access to soap and water then use alcohol-based handrub if available.

It is imperative for the health of everyone, particularly in high footfall areas, that we keep germs to a minimum and by washing our hands the correct way (and singing happy birthday) (twice) we will combat the rate of infection.

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