Life Springs Parkland Hospital celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day
People must remember to wash underneath their fingernails because that’s where most germs hide.
Life Springs Parkland Hospital celebrated World Hand Hygiene Day on Friday.
The day is celebrated on May 5 every year and was designed to raise awareness of the critical role hand hygiene plays in the prevention of infection and of sepsis, especially in healthcare.
The hospital had a hand hygiene relay among staff that looked at whether various members of staff in the various departments across the hospital knew the correct method of cleansing their hands.
Staff were also asked various questions around hand hygiene.
Also read: FERH celebrates World Hand Hygiene Day
Hospital manager Tertia Nieuwoudt says, “Celebrating this day will not only place greater focus on the fight against multidrug-resistant organisms and the prevention of infection in healthcare but will highlight how both healthcare workers and members of the public can make a significant contribution towards a healthier, safer hospital.”
Hand hygiene is important and studies have revealed that 60 per cent of South Africans do not wash their hands properly after using the toilet, nor do they wash their hands with soap.
Seventy-five per cent of all illnesses in the home can be prevented by using hand hygiene products and maintaining good hygiene habits such as hand washing.
One should wash their hands for more than 40 seconds and should remember to wash underneath their fingernails as that is where most of the germs hide.
