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Wash Your Hands With Soap And Warm Water For 15 To 20 Seconds.
That’s about the amount of time
it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
No Soap? Use Sanitizer.
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of microbes on hands. Simply apply sanitizer to your palm and continue to rub over the entire surface of your hands and ngers until they are completely dry.
Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
1. Clean Your Hands
• After touching objects or surfaces
• Before eating
• After using the restroom
12
promptly throw away. Avoid touching
Are You At Risk For A Blood Clot?
Deep-vein thrombosis or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein, often in the lower leg or thigh. When the blood clot breaks away and travels through the blood stream to an artery, blocking blood ow, it can cause death or damage to the brain, heart or lungs. Risks of a blood clot are greater if you‘re inactive for long periods, such as during a hospital stay.
• Talk to your doctor about your risk
of DVT and using compression stockings or blood-thinners while you are in the hospital.
• Notice the following symptoms: swelling, pain, tenderness or discoloration in one or both legs, arm or neck; sudden coughing that may bring up blood; sharp chest pain; rapid breathing or shortness of breath; severe light-headedness.
Courtesy, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Ways To Prevent Hospital Infection
While you’re in the hospital, there is the possibility of developing an infection. You can reduce your risks by taking these simple precautions:
other people. If
you do develop
an infection, ask
the sta if there is
anything else you
should do to help
prevent the spread of germs.
4. Check Your Bandages.
If a bandage on a wound or IV becomes loose or wet, let your nurse know. Also, if you have a catheter
or drainage tube, tell your nurse if it becomes loose or dislodged.
5. Remind Sta To Clean Their Hands.
You’ll notice that your healthcare providers wash their hands both before and a er they touch you. While this is standard practice, don’t hesitate to speak up and ask them to wash their hands if they forget.
6. Tell Guests Not To Visit If They Are Sick. Also, ask your guests to clean their hands when they enter your room.
Prevent Falls
Falls may occur when a patient tries to get out of bed either to go to the bathroom or walk around the room when they are weak or unsteady due to illness, inactivity or the side-e ects of medications.
• Useyourcallbuttontoaskforhelp if you feel unsteady.
• Askforhelpgettingtothe bathroom or walking around the room or in the hallways.
• Alwaysusehandrailsinthe bathroom and hallways.
• Wearnon-slipsocksorfootwear.
• Donotletyourrobeorpajamas drag the oor and cause you to trip.
• Keepthecallbuttonanditemsyou
need within your reach.
• Lowertheheightofthebedand the side rails so that you can reach what you need.
2. Keep Vaccinations Up-To-Date.
Be sure you are protected from the spread of infection by knowing what vaccinations you might need. If you don’t know, ask your hospital sta .
3. Cover If You Are Sick.
Limit the spread of germs by sneezing and coughing into tissues that you
• Talk to your doctor if your medicine makes you sleepy, light- headed, sluggish or confused. Ask how to reduce these side e ects or if you can take another medicine.
Prepare For Surgery
To put your mind at ease and to avoid medical mistakes, make sure you, your Support Person and your surgical sta con rm the following:
• Yournameandthetypeofsurgery you are having.
• Yoursurgicalteamhasmarkedthe correct body part to be operated on and your surgeon knows you are the right person, receiving the right surgery, on the right part.
• Ifyouhaveamediport,pacemaker, insulin pump or other device, tell your surgical team.
Source: cdc.gov/HandHygiene
PATIENT SAFETY–BLOOD CLOT RISKS PATIENT SAFETY–PREVENT INFECTION!