Hand washing

When your hands look dirty, it's easy to tell that they need washing. But most of the time you won't see the germs that need to be cleaned off. That's why you should always wash and dry your hands at the following times:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water – use warm water if available. Turn off the tap and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with soap – liquid is best. Rub hands together until the soap makes bubbles. Make sure to rub on both sides of both hands and in between your fingers and thumbs.
3. Rub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the Happy Birthday song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water – use warm water if available.
5. Dry your hands – using a paper towel is best or, if at home, a clean dry towel.

Note: Plain soap is as good as antiseptic soap

Antiseptics may be added to hand cleansers. However, plain soap has been shown to be just as effective as hand cleansers or soaps with added antiseptic agents. 

Video: Golden Rules with Panatahi - Hand Hygiene

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(Ministry of Health, NZ, 2020)

If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitiser that can be used without water is a good alternative. Look for one with 60–80% alcohol (ideally 75%).

• Apply one squirt of hand rub in a cupped hand.
• Rub hands palm to palm, up to and including your wrists.
• Rub your right palm over the back of your left hand with linked fingers and vice versa.
• Rub palm to palm with fingers linked.
• Rub the backs of your fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked.
• Rub around your left thumb held in your right palm and vice versa.
• Rub around firmly the closed fingers of your right hand in your left palm and vice versa.
• Once dry, your hands are safe.