| Three Easy Steps To Prevent
Infections Waukegan,
Ill., 10/26/04- With
this year's national shortage of flu vaccine,
Vista Health (Waukegan), in conjunction with
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of
Healthcare Organizations, the American Hospital
Association (AHA), Association for Professionals
in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), Infectious Diseases Society of America
(IDSA), and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
of America (SHEA), encourages Lake County
residents to take appropriate steps to reduce
the likelihood of becoming ill.
As part of the national campaign to help
Americans fight the spread of infection,
not only in healthcare settings but also
in the community, and to contain contagious
diseases like the common cold, strep throat
and influenza, Vista reminds area residents
not to visit hospitals or nursing homes if
they are ill, have a cold, temperature, are
sneezing or coughing so that patients and
residents of long-term care facilities are
not exposed to potential illnesses.
In addition, people can do three easy things
to limit the spread of respiratory infections
and reduce their family's chances of becoming
ill.
- Clean your hands - Rub
hands vigorously with soap and warm water
for at least 15 seconds after using the
bathroom, taking out the trash, changing
a diaper, or before handling food. Use
of alcohol-based hand sanitizers is an
acceptable alternative. Americans should
also not hesitate to ask their doctors,
nurses, dentists or other caregivers whether
they have cleaned their hands before rendering
care. It is also important that your hands
be clean when caring for a sick friend
or family member at home.
- Cover your mouth and nose - To
stop the spread of infectious diseases
through sneezes and coughs, cover your
mouth and nose with a tissue, your hands,
or the crook of your elbow. Then, remember
to wash your hands.
- Avoid
close contact - A
fever or symptoms of a contagious illness
are clear signs to you or your child to
stay at home and away from other people,
either at work or at school. If you are
sick and go to work or school, you place
others at risk for getting sick as well.
Because influenza and other respiratory
infections are so common, the impact on American
lives often goes unnoticed. However, complications
from influenza kill more than 36,000 people
in the United States each year, according
to the CDC. And the common cold takes its
toll as well. The CDC's National Center for
Health Statistics reports that an estimated
62 million individuals require medical attention
or must restrict their work or school activity
each year because of this problem.
"People often do not realize the important
roles they can play in preventing the occurrence
and spread of these diseases," says
Nancy Sislow, R.N., M.S., chief nursing officer,
Vista Health.
"Preventing the spread of infection
in healthcare settings protects patients
and saves lives," she adds.. "Good
hand hygiene is especially important. We
encourage patients to remind their caregivers
and visitors to clean their hands before
touching them."
For a copy of a free brochure, Three Things
You Can Do to Prevent Infection , call
Vista Health's Community Relations Department
at 1-800-843-2464.
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