5 Ways to Fight Infections

Stay Safe in the Hospital

At the hospital, you might come into contact with germs that could give you a new illness. Reduce your chances of infection with these safety tips.

1. Clean Your Hands:

• After touching surfaces, especially doorknobs and handrails
• Before eating
• After using the restroom
• After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose

2. Ask Visitors to Help You Stay Safe

Everyone, including all hospital staff and guests, should clean their hands before they touch you. Make sure your visitors wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when they enter your room. Ask friends and family not to visit if they are sick.

3. Cover Your Cough or Sneeze

To limit the spread of germs, cough or sneeze into tissues, then immediately throw them away and clean your hands. Ask staff if you should wear a surgical mask. Even if you don’t feel sick, you could be carrying germs that can make others sick.



4. Keep an Eye on Bandages, Dressings, Tubes, and Drains

If a dressing on a wound, surgical site, or IV gets wet or loose, tell your nurse. Also let your nurse know if a catheter or drainage tube becomes loose, comes out, or does not seem to be draining well. Speak up if the area around the tube hurts or is hot to the touch.

5. Keep Your Vaccinations up to Date

Make sure you are as protected as possible from the spread of infection. Check with hospital staff about whether it’s safe for you to receive any vaccines you might need.

Cleaning Tip

Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer under your nails, between your fingers, and on the palms and backs of your hands. Rub for 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice).

Influenza

Click here for more detailed information on protecting yourself from influenza.