Soap and hydroalcoholic gel
Soap procedure:
- Wetting
- Soap application
- Palm to palm rubbing
- Dorsum rubbing with interlaced fingers (carry out for both hands)
- Palm to palm rubbing with interlaced fingers
- Tips of fingers rubbing with interlocked fingers
- Thumb rubbing
- Tips rotational/backward/forward rubbing with clasped fingers
- Wrist rubbing (carry out for both hands)
- Rinsing
- Drying (with a single use towel)
- Turning off the faucet with the used towel (avoid direct contact between the hand and the faucet after the wash!)
Hydroalcoholic gel procedure:
For proper gel application: Use exactly the same method without wetting the hands and carry out the procedure until the gel is dried out.
Source (WHO)
Printable memo (WHO)
5 moments for hand hygiene (Source : OMS)
Gloves
How to don gloves:
- Choose the gloves whose size fits you well
- Don the gloves and cover the cuff of the gown with them
When using gloves:
Once gloved, hands should not touch anything that is not defined by indications and conditions for glove use.
How to remove gloves:
- Glove to glove: pinch one glove at the wrist level to remove it, without touching the skin, and peel away from the hand, thus allowing the glove to turn inside out
- Skin to skin: hold the removed glove in the gloved hand and slide the fingers of the ungloved hand inside between the glove by rolling it down the hand, without touching external contaminated parts of the glove and fold into the first glove
- Discard the gloves in the trash
Source (WHO)
Printable memo (WHO)
Masks
How to put on a face mask:
- Choose an appropriate mask (size, type…). Notice that mask efficiency is reduced in presence of facial hair
- Clean your hands
- Remove a mask from the box and make sure there are no tears or holes in either side of the mask
- Determine which side of the mask is the top (the side of the mask that has a stiff bendable edge is the top)
Determine which side of the mask is the front (the colored side of the mask is usually the front and should face away from you, while the white side touches your face)
- Follow the instructions below for the type of mask you are using
- Face Mask with Ear loops: Hold the mask by the ear loops. Place a loop around each ear
- Face Mask with Ties: Bring the mask to your nose level and place the ties over the crown of your head and secure with a bow
- Face Mask with Bands: Hold the mask in your hand with the nosepiece or top of the mask at fingertips, allowing the headbands to hang freely below hands. Bring the mask to your nose level and pull the top strap over your head so that it rests over the crown of your head. Pull the bottom strap over your head so that it rests at the nape of your neck
- Mold or pinch the stiff edge to the shape of your nose
- Pull the bottom of the mask over your mouth and chin
- For respirator mask (FFP2, N95 e.g.): do a breath check by looking for air entries inside your mask
How to remove a face mask:
- Clean your hands
- Don't touch the front of the mask, it is contaminated. Only touch the ear loops/ties/band. Follow the instructions below according to the type of mask you are using
- Face Mask with Ear loops: Hold both of the ear loops and gently lift and remove the mask
- Face Mask with Ties: Untie the bottom bow first then untie the top bow and pull the mask away from you as the ties are loosened
- Face Mask with Bands: Lift the bottom strap over your head first then pull the top strap over your head
- Discard the mask in the trash
- Clean your hands
Source (Dept. of Public Health, San Francisco)
Printable memo (WHO)
Hygiene cap
Donning procedure:
- Take off eyeglasses if you wear some
- Tie long hairs, if applicable
- If you have a hood, place the ‘V’ aperture at the front
- If you have a hair bonnet, place it over your hair and ears
- Replace your eyeglasses if worn
Doffing procedure:
- Gently split up the hood at the aperture meant for it. Roll up the hood so that the dirty side is now on the inside
- Lean over, remove the hood or the hair bonnet without touching the dirty side
- Discard the hygiene cap in the trash
Boot cover
Donning procedure:
- Put all the way up your boot cover, one foot at a time
Doffing procedure:
- Take off your boot cover, one foot at a time. Avoid touching the external contaminated part with the trouser leg
- Discard the boot covers in the trash
Gown
Donning procedure:
- Clean your hands
- Take the gown, open it up and check for tears or holes
- Tight it up in the back and neck
Doffing procedure:
- Clean your hands
- In case of a disposable gown, you can gently rip-off the attached parts. In case of a clothed gown untie the attached part without touching the internal non-contaminated parts like your neck or your inner cloth
- Pull the gown off your body, including the gloves, and roll it up keeping the dirty part inside
- Ball it up and discard the gown in the trash
- Clean your hands
Eye protection
Donning procedure:
- Place your goggles or face shield over your head
- Place the sticks under the hygiene cap if you wear one
Doffing procedure:
- Lean over and take off your goggles or face shield carefully and pull it away from the face
- Dispose of the used material according to your service instructions.