Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hi. My name is Jim Winders
and I am from a dialysis unit in Aurora, Colorado.
As a healthcare worker,
I believe it's important that all of us,
and especially you as a dialysis patient,
do what we can to prevent infections.
Infections including those that enter your
bloodstream are the second leading
cause of death among hemodialysis patients.
A group of concerned providers
have gotten together to give you more information
on how to wash your hands and
vascular access before each dialysis treatment.
These are important steps in preventing infections.
This short video will show you the routine
steps of hand and vascular access washing.
Perform these simple steps each time you arrive
at the dialysis center for your treatment,
it only takes 40-60 seconds.
Washing your hands and access before
you come to the unit doesn't count.
Bacteria, in the right environment,
can double their numbers every 20 minutes.
It doesn't take much time for your access
to become dirty on the way to dialysis.
Let's get started with the video.
Please pay close attention
to the process and
don't miss any steps as they are all important.
Upon arrival at the dialysis facility,
you'll be greeted by a member of your
dialysis team, letting you know
they are ready for you
to come in to begin dialysis.
The first step in the process
is to turn on the faucet
and wet your hands and vascular access
with warm water
not cold,
not hot,
just warm.
Next, apply enough soap to cover the entire
surface of your hands and access.
Rub hands and palms together,
rub the back of each hand
and between each finger.
Don't forget to wash around your thumbs
and under your finger nails.
This process should take you 20 seconds,
if you need a timer
sing or hum the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
Rub your access for 20 seconds
and make sure you apply soap to
your entire access with a rubbing motion.
Rinse hands and access with clean water.
Using a clean paper towel,
turn off the faucet
making sure you do not
contaminate your clean hands by
touching the faucet.
Get a new paper towel
and dry off your access first,
and then your hands.
It is important that you get a new paper towel
as the old paper towel
may be contaminated with germs from the faucet.
Lastly, throw the paper towel away.
Once you leave the sink
make sure you do not touch
anything with your clean hands and access.
Hand and access washing
should be a routine step in the process
you go through upon arrival
at the dialysis facility for your treatment.
Please remember:
Take care of your hands regularly
using a protective hand cream or lotion,
at least daily.
Do not routinely wash your hands
with soap and water
immediately before or after using
an alcohol-based hand rub.
Do not use hot water to rinse your hands.
After hand-rubbing or hand-washing,
let your hands dry completely
before putting on gloves.
Keep natural nails short.
If you need help with washing your hands,
please be sure to ask
a healthcare worker to help you.
And remember,
it is equally important that
all healthcare workers wash their hands
and put on appropriate protective
equipment before treating you.
If, at any time, you notice that
a healthcare worker has not washed their hands,
speak up and let them know!
They will appreciate that you are
as concerned for your health as they are.
This message has been brought to you by TIP,
Toolkit for Infection Prevention.