Hand washing policy and procedure.
Hand hygiene practices that reduce the spread of infection in our centres.
Aim: To ensure regular and appropriate hand washing by staff and children.
Explanation: Effective hand washing reduces transmission of infectious diseases and is the best way to control infection in a centre.
Facilities: (a) Staff - Staff hand washing areas will have liquid soap dispensers and paper towels provided. Kitchen areas will also have liquid soap dispensers and paper towels available for hand drying.
Children - Children's hand washing areas are restricted to the bathroom areas. Soap will be provided through soap dispensers and each child will dry their hands-on paper towels provided. Any allergies to soap are identified using the enrolment form and are catered for appropriately.
Hand washing facilities are available in all rooms where there are toilets, children's nappies are changed, and in all rooms where food is prepared.
How to wash hands with soap and water
5 Steps to washing hands
1. Wet hands with running water.
2. Apply soap to hands.
3. Lather soap and rub hands thoroughly, including the wrists, the palms, between the fingers, around the thumbs and under the nails. If you wear rings or other jewellery on your hands move the jewellery around your finger while you rub to ensure that the area underneath the jewellery is clean. Rub hands together for at least 20 seconds (for about as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice).
4. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
5. Dry hands thoroughly with paper towel.
Washing hands with soap and water is the best option if you have visible dirt, grease or food on your hands.
Washing your hands with soap and running water loosens, dilutes and flushes off dirt and germs. Soap alone cannot remove dirt or kill germs – it is the combination of running water, rubbing your hands and the detergent in the soap that helps loosen the dirt, remove the germs and rinse them off your skin.
Hands can be dried with paper towel (preferable) or cloth towels. Cloth towels, if used, should be used by one person (i.e., not shared), and hung up to dry between uses. Cloth towels should be laundered regularly to reduce the risk of re-contaminating or cross-contaminating hands.
Supervise children when washing their hands and help them get into the habit of good hand hygiene.
Always wet hands first before applying soap. This helps the soap to lather more and prevents the skin from drying.
How to clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub
Only use an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty. The hand rub should contain 60–80% alcohol.
There are three steps to using alcohol-based hand rub
1. Apply the amount of hand rub recommended by the manufacturer to palms of dry hands.
2. Rub hands together, making sure you cover in between fingers, around thumbs and under nails.
3. Rub until hands are dry (alcohol-based sanitisers are self-drying, so you do not need a paper towel or hand towel). This should take about 20 seconds.
When to wash hands: Educators and Other Staff
| Before | After |
|---|---|
Starting work, so germs are not introduced into the service Nappy changing Eating or handling food Giving medication Putting on gloves Applying sunscreen or other lotions to one or more children Going home, so germs are not taken home with you | Taking off gloves Changing a nappy Cleaning the nappy change area Using the toilet Helping children use the toilet Coming in from outside play Wiping a child’s nose or your own nose Eating or handling food Handling garbage Cleaning up body fluids - faeces, urine, vomit, or blood Applying sunscreen or other lotions to one or more children Touching animals Giving medication Giving first aid |
When to wash hands: Children
| Before | After |
|---|---|
Starting the day at the service; parents and carers can help with this Eating or handling food Going home, so germs are not taken home with them | Eating or handling food Touching nose secretions Using the toilet Having their nappy changed—their hands will become contaminated while they are on the change mat Coming in from outside play Touching animals |
Staff need to supervise and observe children, so they develop hand washing as a good habit and do it properly.
Babies need to have their hands washed as often and thoroughly as older children. If the baby is able to stand at an appropriately sized hand basin, you need to wash and dry their hands just as you would for yourself. If the baby is unable to stand at a hand basin wash their hands with a baby wipe or disposable wet cloth, rinse their hands with water and dry with paper towel.
Sourced: Staying Healthy - Preventing Infectious Diseases in Early Childhood Education and Care Services 6th Edition 2024
Sources
- Centre Support
This policy is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.