5 Things I Can Do To Prevent Infection

Here are five easy things I can do to keep myself and others healthy and safe from infection. Trying not to catch diseases like the common cold, strep throat, and the flu is important to everyone.

1. CLEAN MY HANDS

Use soap and warm water.

Rub my hands really well for at least 15 seconds.

Rub my palms, fingernails, in between my fingers, and the backs of my hands.

If my hands do not look dirty, I can clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Rub the sanitizer all over hands, especially under my nails and between my fingers,

Rub until my hands are dry.

Clean my hands before touching or eating food.

Clean them after I use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is sick (either in or out of the hospital), or play with a pet.

2. MAKE SURE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS CLEAN THEIR HANDS OR WEAR GLOVES.

Doctors, nurses, dentists and other healthcare providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they examine me, I can ask them if they’ve cleaned their hands.

Healthcare providers should wear clean gloves when they take throat cultures, pull teeth, take blood, touch wounds or body fluids, and examine my mouth or private parts. I should not be afraid to ask them to wear gloves.

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3. COVER MY MOUTH AND NOSE.

When I sneeze, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! I must cover my mouth and nose to keep others healthy and safe from my infection.

I should keep tissues at home, at work, and in my pocket. I will be sure to throw away used tissues and clean my hands after coughing or sneezing.

If I don’t have a tissue, I will cover my mouth and nose with my arm or my hands. If I use my hands, I will clean them right away.

4. IF I AM SICK, I WILL NOT GET TOO CLOSE TO OTHERS.

If I am sick, I will stay away from other people or stay home.

I will not shake hands or touch others.

When I go for medical care, I will call ahead and ask if there is anything I can do to keep people in the waiting room safe from catching my germs and me from catching theirs.

5. I SHOULD GET SHOTS TO AVOID DISEASE AND HELP KEEP EVERYONE SAFE FROM INFECTION. I should make sure that my vaccinations (shots) are current - even as an adult. I can check with my doctor about shots I may need. Vaccinations are available to prevent these diseases:

●Chicken pox ●Mumps ●Measles ●Diphtheria ●Tetanus ●Hepatitis ●Shingles ●Meningitis ●Flu (also known as influenza) ●Whooping cough (also known as Pertussis) ●German measles (also known as Rubella) ●Pneumonia (Streptococcus pneumoniae) ●Human papillomavirus (HPV)

*This handout is adapted from The Joint Commission (www.jointcommission.org) Speak Up™ program materials. The goal of the Speak Up™ program is to help patients become more informed and involved in their healthcare. Created 01/2009