Final answer:
The statement is True. Keeping the hands above the elbows during a surgical scrub prevents backflow of contaminated water, thus maintaining the cleanliness of the hands and forearms after the surgical scrubbing process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that keeping the hands above the elbows when performing a surgical scrub prevents contaminated water from coming into contact with the hands is True. When healthcare workers perform a surgical scrub, they use a meticulous method to greatly reduce the microbial flora on their skin. This reduces the risk of introducing microorganisms into a patient's surgical wounds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have set recommendations that include keeping the hands lower than the elbows when rinsing during a handwashing procedure. This ensures that water, along with any dislodged contaminants, flows from the cleaner area (the wrists) towards the fingertips, preventing contamination from trailing back up the arm.
In a surgical scrub technique, the long and thorough scrubbing process starts from the fingertips and extends to the hands and forearms, and then up beyond the elbows. It's key to keep the hands elevated above the elbows after the scrub to allow water and any contaminants to drip off the fingertips and away from the arms, preserving the cleanliness of the hands and forearms before surgery.