Hand Hygiene and Infection Control

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Hand Hygieneand Infection Control
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Healthy habits stop germsat home, work and school

• According to the CDC there is a noticeable
  increase in days missed for elementary school
  students who did not use proper hand hygiene
• Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually
  due to the common cold alone.
• (CDC, 2004)

(CDC, 2004)
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Stop the Spread of Germs in Schools

• Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population
  attends or works in schools.
• Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20
  minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like
  cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.
• Addressing the spread of germs in schools is
  essential to the health of our youth, our
  schools, and our nation.
• Students need to get plenty of sleep and
  physical activity, drink water, and eat good food
  to help them stay healthy in the winter and all
  year.
• (DHHS, 2004)

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How Germs Spread

• Germs spread mainly from person to person in
  respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This
  is called droplet spread.
• This can happen when droplets from a cough or
  sneeze of an infected person move through the air
  and are deposited on the mouth or nose of the
  people nearby.
• This can also happen when a person touches the
  surface of a desk and then touches his or her own
  eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.
• (DHHS, 2004)

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Clean Hands Save Lives!

• This is why keeping hands clean is one of the
  most important steps we can take to avoid getting
  sick and spreading germs to others.
• Wash your hands with soap and running water for
  20 seconds.
• If soap and clean water are not available, use an
  alcohol-based product to clean your hands
• (CDC, 2008)

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Please watch this important hand- washing video
at the link below!
www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/
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How to Stop the Spread of Germs

• In a nutshell take care to
• Cover your mouth and nose
• Clean your hands often
• Remind your children to practice healthy habits,
  too.
• (DHHS, 2004)

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Cover your mouth and nose and wash your hands
with soap afterwards
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When should you wash your hands?

• Before preparing or eating food
• After going to the bathroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who
  has gone to the bathroom
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After handling an animal or animal waste
• After handling garbage
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After removing gloves
• (CDC, 2008)

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Washing hands with soap and water

• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply
  soap.
• Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all
  surfaces.
• Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Imagine
  singing Happy Birthday twice.
• Rinse hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer.
  Use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
• (CDC, 2008)

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When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Apply product to the palm of one hand
• Rub hands together
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and
  fingers until hands are air-dried.
• Remember Dont use a paper towel to dry your
  hands.
• (CDC, 2008)