Language-free, Access-free Video for Diverse Caregivers
Handwashing For Life® responds to healthcare’s immediate need for caregiver-convenient handwash training by giving them free access to videos created for a culturally diverse crew working in time-crunched conditions.
The value of each training minute in healthcare has risen sharply with the COVID-19 response. But the time available has dropped by a similar multiple. Handwashing For Life®’s language-free video The Why, The When & The How was created for this duality. Its Instructional design also addresses the communication needs of a workforce where English is increasingly the second language.
These compact video segments can either be used in stand-alone mode or integrated with existing programs where added context can be tailored for specific caregiver groups.
Segment one is titled The Why and seeks to engage the heart and soul of the caregivers. The importance of handwashing is clear to all but easily forgotten when challenged by urgent patient needs. A person grimacing in pain can overwhelm one’s plan to wash hands. The potential burned-in graphic of an unwashed hand from the video may provide the added memory for the timely handwash. According to Aristotle, “The soul can only be engaged once the mind has a picture.”
The When is segment two. It serves to illustrate touch-points requiring a handwash, in keeping with the “5 Moments” described by WHO, the World Health Organization. It highlights those high-touch surfaces identified in another research project helpful in training:
Segment three, The How, models critical handwashing steps and is supported by a downloadable poster.
The Handwashing For Life® Institute refers to the 20-second handwash as their Core Handwash which can be varied by time and friction for added effectiveness. The “Core” can also be followed with an application of hand sanitizer and by the donning of gloves where appropriate.