How to Wash Hands According to the WHO Standard

Practicing good hand hygiene not only will help protect you against the novel coronavirus pneumonia known as COVID-19, but help protect your loved ones from getting infected as well. Learn the proper way to wash your hands according to the WHO standards in the article below.

The entire process of washing your hands should take around 40 seconds, or approximately two rounds of singing the "Alphabet Song" at a normal pace.

Use soap and water in most situations if available, especially if your hands are noticeably soiled.

Also, you can use the following mnemonic device in order to remember the proper way to wash your hands:

Mnemonic：I Ordered a Basket of SKiTTles

（Inside, Outside, Back Side, Knuckles, Thumb Tip）

Step 1：Wet hands with water.

Step 2: Apply enough soap to cover your hands completely.

Step 3: Rub palms together.

Step 4: Vigorously rub your right palm over your left fingers, and vice versa. 

Step 5: Rub your palms together, interlacing your fingers.

Step 6: Rub the tops of your fingers into the opposing palm.

Step 7: Clasp and rub your left thumb in your right hand in a circular motion. Do the same with your right thumb into your left hand. 

Step 8: Clasp your fingers on your right hand and rub them in a circular motion into the palm of your left hand. Repeat with the fingers on your left hand into the palm of your right hand.

Step 9: Rinse your hands with water.

Step 10: Dry hands thoroughly with disposable paper towels. It is not recommended to use cloth hand towels to dry your hands due to the risk of contamination.

If the faucet does not have a sensor, please proceed to Step 11.

Step 11: Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet.

Final Step: Your hands are now CLEAN!

The Beijing United Family Hospital Pharmacy Department has a public consultation hotline to answer any questions you may have about your medications. The service is available from 9:30 to 18:00 Monday to Sunday. Please call 010-59277052 should you have any questions.

Reference：

WHO How To Wash Hands

The Beijing United Family Hospital Pharmacy is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our international team of pharmacists are always ready to answer your questions about medicines and regularly attend training programs both in China and overseas to keep up with the latest developments in the field of pharmacy and to provide patients with refined services to ensure patient safety.