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Guide to Being A Safe Patient or Caregiver to Help Prevent Infections

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3 Steps to Prevent HAIs Practice good hand hygiene: Hands are the most common way that germs spread in the hospital. Everyone in the hospital – healthcare personnel, patients, and visitors – should clean their hands often. • In most situations, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer to clean your hands. Hand sanitizer comes as liquid, gel, or foam and is available from dispensers located throughout the hospital. • Wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, when they are visibly dirty, and before touching food or drinks. • Clean hands before entering and after exiting a patient's room, after sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose, and before touching food or drinks. Patient prompts: "Where is the hand sanitizer dispenser?" "How can I clean my hands from my bed?" "Are there any special instructions I should follow?" "Are there any special instructions I should tell my visitors?" Ask doctors and nurses why the medical devices that you have are needed and when they can be removed: These medical devices may include indwelling urinary catheters, intravenous catheters (IVs), peripheral IVs, central venous catheters, surgical drains, and endotracheal tubes. If you are caring for someone with a medical device who cannot speak, ask when the device can be removed. To anyone who enters your room or cares for you: "The hospital has told me to remind everyone to clean their hands before coming in the room."

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