A Patient's Guide to Using Alcohol Hand Gel/Rub

Alcohol hand gel/rub is a clear substance that enables people to decontaminate their hands without using soap and water. It contains 70% alcohol and a moisturiser.

It can be used to disinfect clean hands before you visit a friend or relative. Staff working at the hospital can use it to disinfect their hands prior to treating their patients.

• Push the dispenser once to obtain a measured amount of gel/rub

• Rub the gel/rub onto both hands includin between your fingers, thumbs and wrists

• Continue rubbing your hands together until the alcohol has evaporated; this normally takes approximately 15 – 20 seconds

• Alcohol hand gel/rub is safe for children to use, however children must be supervised by an adult to ensure that they do not accidently get it in their eyes or swallow it

• Alcohol hand gel/rub is not absorbed through the skin making it safe for pregnant people to use

• Alcohol hand gel/rub will not remove dirt from your hands – you need to wash your hands with soap and water if they are dirty

• Staff are expected to use it before and after patient contact

• It is okay to ask staff if they have cleaned their hands

• If the dispenser is empty please inform staff