National Hand Washing Awareness Week in Assisted Living Communities

National Hand Washing Awareness Week

December 2 through December 8, 2012 is National Hand Washing Week. National Hand Washing Awareness Week’s main purpose is to decrease the spread of infectious diseases by empowering individuals to educate and help protect their communities. Clean hands can prevent the spread of germs from one person to another throughout an entire assisted living or independent living community. Working together can help make a difference.

Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of contagious diseases when done correctly.  Statistics show that 80% of all infectious diseases are transmitted by touch. With the high risk of disease being spread to children and elderly who are most susceptible to getting sick it is extremely important to wash hands correctly and frequently.

It is recommended to wash your hands for at least 15 seconds, and the following 5 steps outline how to properly wash your hands.

• Wet hands with warm running water
• Add soap and rub your hands together, making a soapy lather. Wash the front and back of your hands as well as between your fingers and under your nails
• Rinse your hands well under warm running water
• Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel
• Turn off the water with a clean paper towel

It is important to wash your hands frequently and the following is a small list of times it is important to wash your hands.

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
• After touching garbage

In assisted living and independent living communities it is essential to making sure residents and staff are frequently washing their hands. When residents and staff frequently wash their hands the chance of spreading infections and disease will decrease. Being aware of how effective hand washing is can increase the likelihood of residents washing their hands. It is important to wash your hands frequently and encourage your friends, family, and community members to do the same. Happy Hand Washing!

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References:

http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/