May 5, 2015
Tuesday, May 5 is national STOP! Clean Your Hands Day and London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is leading the way in practicing good hand hygiene.
Organisms such as bacteria and viruses are commonly transmitted on your hands. Hand hygiene is the primary measure for enhancing patient safety by reducing hospital acquired infections (HAIs) and the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.
What can you do to decrease the odds of spreading or getting an infection?
Clean your hands:
- Before and after touching others
- Before and after eating
- When your hands are visibly soiled
- After using the bathroom
- After coughing or sneezing
What are the choices for cleaning hands?
Alcohol-based hand rubs are available throughout the hospital and are easily identified by the bright red buttons on the front of the dispenser. If your hands are visibly soiled, you will need to use soap and water. Cleaning your hands only takes 15 seconds! Make sure you cover all surfaces. If you are using soap and water, don’t forget to use a paper towel to turn off the taps.
LHSC staff follow the four moments of hand hygiene:
- Moment 1 – before initial patient contact;
- Moment 2 – before aseptic procedure;
- Moment 3 – after body fluid exposure risk; and,
- Moment 4 – after patient contact.
LHSC’s 2014 hand hygiene rates for staff, released in late April, show a high compliance to all four moments of hand hygiene. LHSC’s hand hygiene rates for Moment 1 and Moment 4 are reported annually to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Let’s continue to work together to prevent the spread of infections. Remember today, and every day, to "STOP! Clean Your Hands."
