Surgical Wash

Most of us make the same mistake when washing our hands...

Unless you’re a surgeon – you’re probably washing your hands all wrong. Neurosurgeon, Dr. Isaac Yang, explains. There’s a reason you see surgeons washing their hands with their fingers up and elbows down. It’s so the water drains from the fingertips, putting all the debris and bacteria towards the elbows after the rinse.

We can modify the surgical hand-washing technique to suit our everyday lives and small sinks. Dr. Yang recommends rinsing your hands with your fingertips pointed up and wrists bent. When you REALLY need your hands clean – preparing food or dressing a wound – Dr. Yang says keep going. Wash all the way up to your elbows. Any soap will do, and alcohol wipes are 99% as effective.