During a surgical scrub, which body part should soap and water flow down towards?

During a surgical scrub, soap and water should flow down towards the elbows. This technique is essential because it aids in minimizing the risk of contaminating previously cleaned areas. When performing a surgical scrub, you're essentially working to remove bacteria and other contaminants from your hands, forearms, and elbows.

Starting with the hands and moving up to the elbows ensures that any microbes are rinsed downwards, away from the clean areas of the body. Once the scrub is completed, everything below the elbows is considered contaminated, thus requiring careful attention to the flow of water and soap during the process. By directing the flow toward the elbows, you effectively reduce the likelihood of any contaminants migrating back to the hands and forearms after they have been thoroughly cleaned.