Posted By Scott d Hi All, I have been asked if I know of any sources of information for creating a training session on washing hands. Does anybody have any information they would be willing to share with me or be able to point me in the right direction? Many Thanks, Scott

Posted By Anwar Afzal Hi Send me your email and i will send a power point presentation covering that to you Regards Anwar

Posted By Chris Packham One point that you should include in your presentation is that hand washing should only ever be carried out using lukewarm water. Using water above 40 deg. C causes damage to the 'lamellar layer' of the skin and can result in an impaired barrier effectiveness of the skin for several hours. Actually, the ideal temperature for hand washing is 32 deg. C. Obviously you cannot pipe water around the system at this temperature - the legionella would love it! - so I find that in most cases what I recommend the client is a preset thermostatic mixing valve and a single tap.

Posted By Chris Packham Darren There are scientific studies that show the effect on the skin from washing in elevated temperatures. If you contact me off line I will see what I can do to provide you with the appropriate sources. One question: "What is the benefit of washing at higher temperatures?" If it is a concern for the elimination of bacteria, a moment's thought will indicate the nonsense of this. The temperature required for bacteria to be killed is much higher than any temperature that could be tolerated by the human skin. Another "nonsense" is the concept that in sensitive areas, e.g. food handling, hands must be washed using an antimicrobial/antiseptic skin cleanser. The evidence shows clearly that these serve no useful purpose and can actually be counter-productive. If you do wish to contact me off line, my phone number is 01386 832 311 or chris.packham@enviroderm.co.uk