Affiliation:
1. Senior lecturer, De Montfort University City Campus, De Montfort University, Leicester School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Abstract
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were advised by some of our political leaders to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ twice to ourselves while undertaking handwashing. This was to ensure the timeframe spent washing our hands was enough to reduce the spread of infection. However, hand hygiene is not that simple, and the suggestion that such measures would be sufficient to limit any potential risks to health is misleading. The following article will establish the actualities of safe hand hygiene, and explain why it is so important and how it is best achieved. Through doing so, it will ensure healthcare workers are informed and able to make beneficent decisions for their safety, and for the safety of their patients/clients.