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Hand Washing:
Self-Learning Module
Module: Infection Control
Unit: Hand Washing
Unit Overview: This unit is a self-paced,
self-administered learning module designed to educate and train child care
employees on proper hand washing techniques.
| Pre-requisite |
None
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| Topic Completion Time |
Approximately 30 minutes
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| Target Audience |
Child care employees
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| How to Use This Unit |
- Read all the material.
- Complete the test.
- Complete the course evaluation.
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| When to Use This Unit |
 | Initial orientation of new child care employees
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| Annual review of child care employees |
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Learning
Objectives
Following
completion of the Hand Washing, the child care employee will be able to
meet the following program objectives:
| Understand why correct hand washing is important. |
| Understand when to wash hands. |
| Demonstrate correct hand washing technique. |
Contents
- Why Hand Washing is Important
- When Hands Should be Washed
- How Hands Should be Washed
- Teaching the Children
According to the Centers for Disease Control, hand washing is considered the
single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. Diseases are
caused by germs and germs are carried on your hands. Proper hand washing, by
children and staff, is an easy and effective way to reduce the transmission of
disease. Hand washing works - the result is fewer sick days and visits to the
doctor. "In spite of all the studies about the benefits of hand washing,
improper or infrequent hand washing continues to be a major factor in the spread
of disease in day-care" (Source: Infectious Diseases in Children, Volume 4,
July 1991).
| In the child care setting, the control of colds, flu and intestinal
infections that cause diarrhea are especially important. |
| Proper hand washing also promotes safety in food handling by safeguarding
against food contamination. |
Staff
| When arriving at the child care setting |
| Before preparing or serving any food or drink
 | After washing hands, it is important not to touch anything (such as a
child, chair, doorknob, etc.) before handling food. |
| If you are using gloves to prepare food, you should still wash your
hands before putting on the gloves. Many disposable gloves contain tiny
holes providing exit points for the germs - from your hands, to the
outside of the gloves, to the food. |
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| Before feeding any child |
| After diapering or assisting a child with toileting |
| After handling animals or insects |
| When hands appear dirty |
| Before giving first aid (when appropriate) |
| Before administering medications |
| After any contact with a child's bodily fluids including blood, vomit,
sputum, mucus (from wiping noses) |
| After using the rest room |
| If you have used gloves in diapering, for example, you should still wash
your hands when the gloves are removed.
| Many disposable gloves contain tiny holes that provide an entry point
for germs. |
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Children
| When arriving at the child care setting |
| Before eating |
| After toileting |
| After playground activities |
| After handling animals/insects |
| When hands appear dirty |
Caution: Use of pre-moistened towelettes,
'dry' wash liquid soaps and basins of standing water are not equivalent
substitutes for soap and running water. Although handy and certainly better than
no washing at all, they should be used only until correct hand washing can be
performed.
| Wet both hands. |
| Apply a small amount of liquid or powder soap (preferable) or use bar
soap.
| Antibacterial/germicidal soaps are not required. |
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| Rub hands together for at least 15 - 20 seconds. Work up a good lather.
| Be sure to wash between fingers, under nails and all hand surfaces
from the tips of nail to beyond wrists. |
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| Rinse hands well under a stream of warm running water. |
| Leave water running while you dry your hands - you do not want to turn off
the 'dirty' faucet with your now clean hands |
| Dry your hands well - use a 'single use' towel. |
| Use the towel to turn off the faucet. |
| Dispose of the towel in the trash |
| Consider the use of hand lotion to prevent chapped and cracked skin. |
| Time should be taken to teach your children the correct hand washing
technique as described above.
| When to wash hands. |
| How to wash hands. Demonstrate correct hand washing, observe the child
hand washing. Correct technique as necessary. |
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Proceed to the Hand-Washing Test.
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