Did you know facts about hand-washing?

Handwashing Facts and Stats

• On average, you come into contact with 300 surfaces every 30 minutes, exposing you to 840,000 germs.
• Only about 5% of people wash their hands correctly.
• Most people only wash their hands for 6 seconds.
• Around 33% of people don’t use soap when washing their hands.

Who Save Lives Clean Your hands 2021?

For World Hand Hygiene Day 2021, WHO calls on health care workers and facilities to achieve effective hand hygiene action at the point of care.

Who invented hand hygiene?

physician Ignaz Semmelweis
In fact, it was 19th-century Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis who, after observational studies, first advanced the idea of “hand hygiene” in medical settings. The simple act of hand-washing is a critical way to prevent the spread of germs.

Who recommendations for hand hygiene?

Handwashing with soap and water remains a sensible strategy for hand hygiene in non-health care settings and is recommended by CDC and other experts. When health care personnel’s hands are visibly soiled, they should wash with soap and water. The use of gloves does not eliminate the need for hand hygiene.

Who guidelines for hand hygiene?

Overview. The WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in health care provide health-care workers (HCWs), hospital administrators and health authorities with a thorough review of evidence on hand hygiene in health care and specific recommendations to improve practices and reduce transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and HCWs.

Why is good hand hygiene so important?

Washing your hands properly is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent and control the spread of many illnesses . Good hand hygiene will reduce the risk of things like flu, food poisoning and healthcare associated infections being passed from person to person.

When to perform hand hygiene?

Hand hygiene is ALWAYS performed: before and after patient care. after coming into contact with any type of body fluid or open wound. after touching any object that is near a patient (hand railing, bedside table etc.) after removing gloves. prior to eating.