Press Release

DH issues guidelines for good handwashing

July 26, 2000

Handwashing, when done correctly, is an important personal hygiene practice to prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, influenza, and hand, foot and mouth disease.

The Assistant Director of Health (Personal Health Services), Dr Regina Ching today (July 26) reiterated the health message which can also be found in DH's "Guidelines for Good Handwashing" on the homepage http://www.gov.hk/dh/diseases/index.htm

Dr Ching said: "Many diseases can be spread easily if hands contaminated with infective agents present in faecal matter or respiratory discharges are not properly washed."

"It is most important to wash hands right after going to the toilets, when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretion, and before handling food and before eating. Those who look after young children or the sick should also wash their hands after changing diapers and handling soiled articles."

Hands can be washed in different ways to achieve the same effect of removing dirt and reducing germs. The following steps are suggested:

• Wet hands under running water.
• Apply liquid soap and rub hands together to make a soapy lather.
• Away from the running water, rub the front and back of hands. Massage all the finger tips properly including the thumb, the web of the fingers, around and under the nails. Do this for at least 10 seconds.
• Rinse hands thoroughly under running water.
• Dry hands thoroughly either with a clean cotton towel, a paper towel, or a hand dryer.
• The cleaned hands should not touch the water tap directly again. The tap may be turned off:
  - by using the towel wrapping the faucet; or
  - after splashing water to clean the faucet;
  - or by another person.
• Towels should never be shared. Each used paper towel should be properly disposed of.
• Individuals who prefer to use their own cotton towel should make sure that their towel is not shared with others. It is preferable to have more than one cotton towel for each day's use. The towels should be washed at least once daily.

Members of the public can hear the Guidelines by calling DH's Central Health Education Hotline on Tel: 2833 0111. They can also obtain fax copies of the Guidelines by fax (2833 0111).

The Guidelines have been distributed to schools, kindergartens, nurseries and elderly homes through the Education Department and Social Welfare Department.