Fighting Infections
While you’re in the hospital to get well, you should know that there is the possibility of developing an infection. The single most important thing you can do to help prevent infections is to wash your hands and make sure that everyone who touches you—including your doctors and nurses—washes his or her hands, too.
You, your family and friends should wash hands:
- after touching objects or surfaces in the hospital room
- before eating
- after using the restroom
- upon entering and exiting your room
It also is important that your health care providers always clean their hands with either soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, before and after they touch you. Health care providers know to practice hand hygiene, but sometimes they forget. You and your family should not be afraid or embarrassed to speak up and ask them to wash their hands.
Hand Sanitizer
Using soap and water is the best way to clean your hands. If that isn’t available, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. To use, apply the sanitizer to the palm of your hand and rub your hands and fingers together until they are dry.
Happy Birthday to You!
Wash your hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds. That’s about the same amount of time that it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.