PERSONAL HYGIENE FOR
THE CONSUMER
Presented by:
APS Healthcare
Southwestern PA Health Care
Quality Unit
(HCQU)
7-20-04/Rev 8-5-04/TLT
DISCLAIMER
 Information or education provided by the
HCQU is not intended to replace medical
advice from the consumer’s personal care
physician, existing facility policy or federal,
state and local regulations/codes within the
agency jurisdiction. The information
provided is not all inclusive of the topic
presented.
 "Certificates for training hours will only be awarded to those who
attend a training in its entirety. Attendees are responsible
 for submitting paperwork to their respective agencies."
OBJECTIVES
The participant will be able
to:
Describe how to wash the hands
Discuss the importance of personal
hygiene
List 3 areas of personal hygiene
HYGIENE TOPICS
DISCUSSED:
Hand washing
Bathroom hygiene
Bathing
Nail care
Hair care
Shaving
“Sweet smells”
Glasses/hearing
Proper disposal of
aid hygiene
Dressing
feminine hygiene
products
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
BE CLEAN?
To stop the spread of germs
• Germs are invisible, but can
cause colds, the flu and
sickness
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
BE CLEAN?
To feel better about yourself
• When people are clean, they
will feel better and are
happier
SOCIAL REASONS TO BE
CLEAN
Would you like to be next to
someone who smells bad or does
not bathe?
MORE SOCIAL REASONS
TO BE CLEAN
Would you like to shake hands
with someone who:
– Had their hands in their mouth?
– Had their hands in their nose?
– Did not wash their hands after using
the bathroom?
HANDWASHING
When should hands be washed?
• Before and after eating
• Before and after touching food
• After going to the bathroom
• After playing with or cleaning up after
an animal
• After blowing your nose, coughing or
sneezing
• After taking out the garbage or trash
HANDWASHING
Do you know how to properly
wash your hands?
Lesson on how to wash your
hands
BATHING/SHOWERING
Body parts to include in a bath:
• Face
• Armpits
• Feet
• Ears (outer and behind only)
• Private area (Genital/buttock
area)
How to clean an uncircumcised
penis
DON’T FORGET………
When washing hands or
bathing/showering, don’t forget
the……………
BATHING DOES A BODY
GOOD!
Bathing:
– Cleanses and conditions the skin
– Can be relaxing and comforting
– Makes you feel better about
yourself
HOW OFTEN SHOULD A PERSON
BATHE OR SHOWER?
Every day
After “sweaty” activities-examples:
–Exercising
–Work
–Doing yard work
As instructed by your MD
HAIR CARE
Daily brushing keeps
hair healthy and free of
tangles
Hair should be cut every
4-6 weeks to keep it
healthy
HAIR CARE
Don’t forget to use SHAMPOO
LESSON ON LICE
LESSON ON LICE
Lice are bugs that can live in
the hair
Report to staff if head is itchy
PREVENTING LICE
To prevent lice, DO NOT share:
• Combs/brushes
• Hats
• Barrettes
• Headbands
• Any hair care accessory
SWEET SMELLS
Change clothes and underwear
daily
Use deodorant and some
perfume/cologne
–Too much perfume/cologne
can make other people sick
–Do not use instead of
bathing!!
SWEET SMELLS
Preventing foot odor
• Air out shoes
• Wear cotton socks
• Thoroughly wash feet
DISPOSAL OF PERSONAL
HYGIENE PRODUCTS
Change when needed to prevent
odors and infection
Dispose of in the garbage or trash
Do not flush sanitary napkins
(pads) down the toilet
BATHROOM HYGIENE
After using the toilet it is
important to:
–Clean buttock/genital area
with toilet paper
–Flush toilet
–Wash and dry hands
USE OF TOILET PAPER
TOILET PAPER
– More is not better
– Only use what is needed
NAIL CARE
After bathing, nails are softer
and easier to cut
Be careful not to
cut the nail too short
NAIL CARE
File edges of nails
Cutting toenails
What to report
SHAVING
Know medications
• Certain medications can
make cuts bleed longer
Keep beards/mustaches
trimmed and neat looking
SHAVING
NEVER share razors with
anyone and DO NOT use
someone else’s razor
GLASSES/HEARING AID
Clean glasses everyday to see
clearly
Put glasses/hearing aids in a
case when not using
GLASSES/HEARING AID
Try to avoid setting the glasses
or hearing aid down anywhere
but in the case
Clean hearing aid as told to do
by the doctor
DRESSING
Wear clean clothes everyday
Tell your caregiver if clothes
have tears or holes in them
Wash your clothes so you always
have clean clothes to wear
IMPORTANCE OF
PERSONAL PROPERTY
DO NOT use someone else’s:
• Make-up
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Hair accessories
• Razor
• Deodorant
IMPORTANCE OF
PERSONAL PROPERTY
DO NOT use someone else’s:
• Washcloth
• Perfume
• Clothes
• Toothbrush
• Jewelry
REFERENCES
 Ladies Home Journal. Kids Hygiene.
Retrieved 6-29-04 from World Wide Web:
http://www.lhj.com/lhj/category.jhtml;jsession
id=C3RVIJWY51BEFQFIBQNSAOWAVAB
B4IV0?categoryid=/templatedata/hk/category/
data/Safety_KidsHygiene.xml
 Taylor, Lillis, LeMone. Fundamentals of
Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing
Care. Philadelphia. J. B. Lippincott Company
1989.
REFERENCES
 Good Grooming For Kids. Oracle Think Quest
Education Foundation.Retrieved 7-6-04 from
World Wide Web:
http://www.thinkquest.org/library/site_sum.ht
ml?tname=22484&url=22484/
 Personal Hygiene: Grooming Routines.
Retrieved 7-6-04 from World Wide Web:
http://www.webhealthcentre.com/general/ph_r
out.asp
For more information on this or
any other physical or behavioral
health topic, please visit our website
@
www.hcqu.apshealthcare.com