CELEBRATE HANDWASHING AWARENESS DAY

March 12

This year, Jefferson will celebrate Handwashing Awareness Day on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the following events:

West Atrium

* Handwashing Awareness Committee Members will be distributing handwashing and infection control information at the Rainbow Booth.

Inpatient Care Units:

* Jefferson Handwashing Champions will be visiting inpatient nursing units and encouraging staff members of all disciplines to take the handwashing challenge and demonstrate their good handwashing techniques at a nearby staff sink. Participants will be eligible to enter a raffle for a $50 Dining With Heart Gift Certificate.

Remember to keep your hands as germ-free as possible, they must be washed:

Before you
* provide direct patient care
* work with patients and in situations governed by isolation policies
* eat
* prepare food

After you
* provide direct patient care
* remove protective gloves
* handle contaminated materials (especially blood and body fluids)
* become soiled from patients' or your own respiratory secretions
* use the bathroom

Be sure to
* take enough time, a minimum of 10 seconds
* use warm, running water
* use enough soap
* use enough friction
* rinse well
* dry hands thoroughly
* turn off faucet with a paper towel

Handwashing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection.