Pitfalls of Hand Hygiene
Washing your hands properly is one of the most important steps in remaining healthy and safe. Below are the 4 most common mistakes people make that can compromise the effectiveness of a hand hygiene event.
1. Not enough time. You should be scrubbing your hands together for at least 20 seconds. 95% of people do not wash their hands for the correct amount of time.
2. Incorrect amount of soap. Too much soap and you wash away important oils on your skin, too little soap and you don't adequately cover the entire hand.
3. Using an air dryer. Air dryers and blow pathogens back onto your skin. Single-use paper towels should be used instead of air dryers.
4. Poor skin health. With frequent hand hygiene events taking place your hands can dry out. Moisturize regularly to avoid dry and cracked skin that provides a place for germs to hide.