Hand Hygiene for Patients and Visitors
Our Commitment to You:
Every effort has been made to protect you and prevent illness from occurring while you are in our facility. Handwashing has been made a personal priority.For specific questions or more information contact the Infection Control Department at (815) 756-1521 x154048.
Why is infection prevention important?
- Prevention is important because an infection can prolong your hospital stay or cause additional illness.
- Many infections can be caused by the patient’s own germs. Sometimes, these germs can be accidentally passed on to other patients.
- The risk of infection is always present. Handwashing is the most important step to decrease this risk.
Germs and Handwashing
- Germs live with us, on and in us and do not always cause harm. Germs are usually spread through touch.
- Handwashing is the most important thing you and the people taking care of you do to protect you from illnesses and infections.
When should you wash your hands?Before you:
- Prepare or eat food
- Treat a cut or wound
- Tend to someone who is sick
After you:
- Go to the bathroom
- Handle uncooked foods
- Change a diaper
- Blow your nose, cough or sneeze
- Handle garbage
- Tend to someone who is sick
- Handle an animal or its waste
- When hands are soiled for any reason
How should you wash your hands?
How you wash your hands is just as important as when you wash your hands. Regularly during the day and especially when your hands are soiled you should:
Wet hands under running water
- Using soap to wash all surfaces thoroughly including wrists, palms, backs of hands, between fingers and under the fingernails.
- Rub hands together for 10 to 15 seconds.
- Dry well with a clean or disposable towel
- Turn water off with a paper towel to avoid contaminating your hands again
- Apply hand lotion frequently to soothe dry skin.
Or
- Use waterless hand foam
- Rub a small amount into the hands until absorbed
- Do not rinse.
As a patient, what can you do to help?
- Wash your hands often and well.
- Remind visitors or anyone entering your room to wash their hands before touching or caring for you.
- If you are on isolation precautions for any reason, ensure everyone who enters your room follows the instructions written on the sign posted to your door.
- Ask friends or family members who are sick not to visit you.
- Ask the parents of children who are sick or who have been around other children who have been sick not to visit you.
- Cover your cough. The hospital provides masks and Kleenex for your convenience as part of our Respiratory Etiquette Program.
