Akrivi Arvaniti

MSc, Supervisor, Health Visitors Unit Department of Public Health Services

"Thriassio" General Hospital

Why is Hand Hygiene So Important?

Microbes• are all around us• come in all shapes and sizes • are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye!• Can be everywhere!

• are all around us• come in all shapes and sizes • are so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye!• Can be everywhere!

We can see them through the Microscope

There are many kinds of germs...

•Microbes can be both good and bad •There are three types of microbes: Fungi, Viruses and Bacteria.

Influenza virus

Bacteria –Staphylococcus aureus

The most common way of microbe transmission

is our hands!

What can bad germs do to you…

Handwashing with soap gets rid of germs!

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important things we can do to stop the spreading of germs and stay healthy!

After arriving from school

When Should I Wash My Hands?

After coughing or blowing your nose

Before preparingor eating food

After playingwith animals

After usingthe toilet

After playing outdoors

Before touching your eyes

when you are sick

Designed by Minnesota Department of Health, www.health.state.mn.us

How to Wash Your Hands

6 Steps for proper handwashing

1. Rub hands palm to palm 2. Back of hands 3. Between fingers

5. Base of thumbs4. Back of fingers 6. Fingernails

•www.cdc.gov, Hand washing: Clean Hands Save Lives•www.health.state.mn.us, Age Appropriate Hand Washing Curriculum•www.health.state.mn.us,Be A Germ-Buster... Wash Your Hands Poster(How-to Hand Washing)•www.wash-hands.com, Washing Your Hands (NHS)•Hand Washing for Kids - A Childs Guide to Hand Hygiene, NHS •e-bug.eu