Each year on October 15, Global Handwashing Day highlights how consistently washing hands with soap and water is an effective and affordable way to prevent viruses and diseases, and ultimately save lives.
There is no universal solution, but hospitals can take these steps to encourage staff to wash their hands:
1. Invest in alcohol-based hand rub. In many cases this is more effective than washing hands with soap and water. When introduced, one study showed adherence rates increased from 28 percent to 47 percent.
For most of the country, the winter months often bring colder temperatures, snow, indoor activities and an increase in the spread of germs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cold and flu season typically peaks in the United States between December and February.2
The hands play an important role in all aspects of our life, both on the job and at home. It makes sense to take care of your hands to keep them healthy and injury-free.
Is it important to wash your hands? Simply put, yes. Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of infections. You can spread certain "germs" (a general term for microbes like viruses and bacteria) casually in some workplaces, universal precautions should be followed when workers are exposed to blood and certain other body fluids.
Just like last year, Deb Group is very active in supporting and celebrating Global Handwashing Day which occurs yearly every October 15th. The day was originally created for children and schools, but can be celebrated by anyone promoting handwashing with soap.
Hundreds of millions of infections could be prevented if health-care professionals, patients and their families, wash their hands with alcohol-based rub or soap and water before and after touching patients and their surroundings, the United Nations health agency today said marking Hand Hygiene Day.
Hand washing is a vital tool in preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses that can cause infections and foodborne illness. People can be a significant source of harmful microorganisms. Proper handwashing by food employees is necessary to control direct and indirect contamination of food, utensils, and equipment.
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