Page 14 - CHI ST LUKES VINTAGE HOSPITAL PATIENT GUIDE
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PATIENT SAFETY Ways To Prevent 3. Cover If You Are Sick. Limit Wash Your Hands
Hospital Infection With Soap And
the spread of germs by sneezing Warm Water For
During your stay, there is a and coughing into tissues that you 15 To 20 Seconds.
possibility you may develop promptly throw away. Avoid touching
an infection. You can reduce other people. If you do develop an Need a timer? Hum the
your risks by taking these infection, ask the staff if there is “Happy Birthday” song from
simple precautions: anything else you should do to help beginning to end twice.
prevent the spread of germs.
1. Clean Your Hands. No Soap?
4. Check Your Bandages. If a Use Sanitizer.
• After touching objects
or surfaces bandage on a wound or IV becomes Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
loose or wet, let your nurse know. can quickly reduce the number
• Before eating Also, if you have a catheter or drainage of microbes on hands. Simply
• After using the restroom tube, tell your nurse if it becomes loose apply sanitizer to your palm
or dislodged. and continue to rub over the
2. Keep Vaccinations Up-To- entire surface of your hands
Date. Be sure you are protected from 5. Remind Staff To Clean Their and fingers until they are
Hands. You’ll notice that your completely dry.
the spread of infection by knowing
what vaccinations you might need. If healthcare providers wash their hands Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control
you don’t know, ask your hospital staff. both before and after they touch you. & Prevention
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.
Are You At Risk For Prevent Falls • Keep the call button and items you
A Blood Clot? need within your reach.
Falls may occur when a patient
Deep-vein thrombosis or DVT, is a blood tries to get out of bed either • Lower the height of the bed if you
clot that forms in a vein, often in the lower to go to the bathroom or walk need to, but never try to lower your
leg or thigh. When the blood clot breaks around the room when they are bed rails or climb over them while
away and travels through the blood stream weak or unsteady due to illness, they are in the up position.
to an artery, blocking blood flow, it can inactivity, or the side effects of
cause death or damage to the brain, medications. If you need to get • Talk to your doctor if your medicine
heart, or lungs. out of bed: makes you sleepy, light-headed,
sluggish, or confused. Ask how to
Risks of blood clots are greater if you • Use your call button to ask for help reduce these side effects or if you can
are inactive for long periods, such as getting out of bed if you feel unsteady. take another medicine.
during a hospital stay. To lower your risk
of DVT, follow these tips: • Ask for help going to the bathroom Courtesy of The Joint Commission
or walking around the room
• Talk to your doctor about your risk or in hallways.
of DVT and the use of compression
stockings or blood-thinners while • Always use handrails in the
in the hospital. bathroom and hallways.
• Notice the following symptoms • Wear non-slip socks or footwear.
during your stay: swelling, pain,
tenderness, or discoloration in one • Do not let your robe or
or both legs, arm, or neck; sudden pajamas drag the floor; they
coughing that may bring up blood; may cause you to trip.
sharp chest pain; rapid breathing or
shortness of breath; severe light-
headedness.
Courtesy, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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