During a bed bath, what should you avoid when cleansing the face?

• A. Using a clean cloth for each area.
• B. Rinsing with warm water.
• C. Getting soap in the eyes.
• D. Washing from dirty to clean.

Answer: (C)

The face should be cleansed calmly and with care to protect the eyes. The thing to avoid is letting soap get into the eyes, because soap can sting, irritate, and potentially injure the eye surface. To prevent this, keep the washcloth and any suds away from the eye area, use a gentle amount of soap on the face if needed, and rinse thoroughly with warm water while the eyes are kept closed. If soap does splash into the eyes, flush with clean water immediately and follow facility protocol. The other practices—using a clean cloth for each area, rinsing with warm water, and washing from clean areas to dirty areas—are sound techniques that support safety and hygiene.