Washing Hands Saves Lives

      Do we realize how important it is to wash our hands? Washing our hands is one of the most important germ fighting things we can do, and we should do it a number of times every day.

     Clean hands can prevent illness and save lives. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, recommend washing hands in warm water with soap for 20 seconds. Clean hands not only prevent you from getting sick, but also help prevent spreading germs from person to person.

     There has been a movement in our local hospitals over the past several years to follow proper hand hygiene guidelines. The result has been a large decrease in the number of preventable infections.

     Cold and flu season is now upon us. This is the time of year that germs spread at school and at work faster than at other times of the year. Washing hands is more important than ever for you and your family to stay healthy.

     When washing remember these tips:

• Be sure to wash the tops of your hands, as well as wrists and under nails,
• Wash hands frequently including before eating, of course,
• Before preparing food; after being in goods of people, shaking hands, etc.,
• After coughing, sneezing, and blowing your nose,
• After touching door knobs, public phones, touch screens, or any other public thing
• When a sink and soap are not available, use alcohol based anti-bacterial gel or wipes.

     Please help remind your children, family, and friends to wash their hand with warm water and soap frequently. To help you, we are providing as a courtesy a flyer you can post as a reminder. You can get a copy of the flyer by clicking here. Be sure to post the flyer where your children will see it, and take it to friends or loved ones who are in the hospital.

     Washing hands can help us all prevent illness, the spread of germs, and even saves lives! Join our Lewis and Daggett team in reminding our children, families, and co-workers of the importance of hand hygiene.