CHAPTER 3

MEDICAL HANDWASHING
PROCEDURE:
ACTION
1. Perform thorough hand washing.
2. Remove outer glove package
wrapper by carefully separating
and peeling apart sides.
3. Grasp inner package and lay it
on clean, flat surface just above
waist level. Open the package
keeping the gloves on the
wrapper.
4. Identify right and left glove. Each
glove has a cuff approximately
5cm. (2 inches) wide. Glove
dominant hand first.
5. With thumb and first two fingers
of non-dominant hand, grasp the
edge of the cuff of the glove for
dominant hand. Touch only
glove’s inside surface.
RATIONALE
Removes bacteria from sterile
surfaces and reduces
transmission of infection.
Prevents inner glove package
from accidentally opening and
touching contaminated objects.
Sterile object held below waist
contaminated. Inner surface of
glove package is considered
sterile.
Proper identification of gloves
prevents contamination by
improper fit. Gloving of dominant
hand first improves your dexterity.
Inner edge of cuff will lie against
your skin and that is not
considered sterile.
 6. Carefully pull glove over If glove’s outer surface touches
dominant hand, leaving cuff and hand or wrist; it is contaminated.
being sure cuff does not roll up
wrist. Be sure thumb and fingers
are in proper spaces.

7. With gloved dominant hand, slip Cuff protects gloved fingers.

your four fingers underneath Sterile touching sterile prevents
second glove’s cuff with the glove contamination.
thumb abducted.

8. Carefully pull second glove over Contact of gloved hand with

non-dominant hand. Do not allow exposed hand results in
fingers and thumb of gloved contamination.
dominant hand to touch any part
of exposed non-dominant hand.

To remove gloves:
Contaminated area does not
1. Using dominant gloved hand, come in contact with hands or
grasp the other glove and remove waist.
by inserting it, keeping the
contaminated area on the inside.
Continue to hold unto gloves.

2. Slide fingers of ungloved hand

inside the remaining glove. Grasp
glove on inside and remove by
turning inside out over hand and
the other glove.

3. Discard gloves inside the wrapper Handwashing reduces the spread

in appropriate container and wash of microorganisms.
hands.