Hand Hygiene and Infection Control

1. Hand Hygieneand Infection Control

2. Healthy habits stop germsat home, work and school • According to the CDC there is a noticeable increase in days missed for elementary school students who did not use proper hand hygiene • Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold alone. (CDC, 2004) (CDC, 2004)

3. Stop the Spread of Germs in Schools • Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in schools. • Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. • Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, our schools, and our nation. • Students need to get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water, and eat good food to help them stay healthy in the winter and all year. (DHHS, 2004)

4. How Germs Spread • Germs spread mainly from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called “droplet spread.” • This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of the people nearby. • This can also happen when a person touches the surface of a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. (DHHS, 2004)

5. Clean Hands Save Lives! • This is why keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. • Wash your hands with soap and running water for 20 seconds. • If soap and clean water are not available, use an alcohol-based product to clean your hands (CDC, 2008)

6. Please watch this important hand- washing video at the link below! www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/

7. How to Stop the Spread of Germs • In a nutshell: take care to • Cover your mouth and nose • Clean your hands often • Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too. (DHHS, 2004)

8. Cover your mouth and nose and wash your hands with soap afterwards

9. When should you wash your hands? • Before preparing or eating food • After going to the bathroom • After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom • Before and after tending to someone who is sick • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing • After handling an animal or animal waste • After handling garbage • Before and after treating a cut or wound • After removing gloves (CDC, 2008)

10. Washing hands with soap and water • Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. • Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces. • Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Imagine singing “ Happy Birthday” twice. • Rinse hands well under running water. • Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. Use your paper towel to turn off the faucet. (CDC, 2008)

11. When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer • Apply product to the palm of one hand • Rub hands together • Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are air-dried. • Remember: Don’t use a paper towel to dry your hands. (CDC, 2008)