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Wash Your Hands With Soap And Warm Water For 15 To 20 Seconds.
Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end 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
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 blood clots is greater if you
are inactive for long periods, such as during a hospital stay. To lower your risk of DVT, follow these tips:
• 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 during your stay: 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
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.
• Use your call button to ask for help getting out of bed if you feel unsteady.
• Askforhelpgoingtothebathroom or walking around the room or in hallways.
• Alwaysusehandrailsinthe bathroom and hallways.
• Wearnon-slipsocksorfootwear.
• Donotletyourrobeor pajamas drag the oor; they may cause you to trip.
• Keepthecallbuttonanditemsyou need within your reach.
• Lowertheheightofthebedandtheside rails so that you can reach what you need.
• Talktoyourdoctorifyourmedicine makes you sleepy, light-headed, sluggish or confused. Ask how to reduce these side e ects or if you can take another medicine.
Courtesy of e Joint Commission
PATIENT SAFETY
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:
3. Cover If You Are Sick.
Limit the spread of germs by sneezing and coughing into tissues that you promptly throw away. Avoid touching 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.
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 .