Ramp up handwashing during flu season
New national council targets improving hygiene practices
Monday October 20, 2008 -- Natalie Miller
While most of the emphasis on hand hygiene targets hospital-acquired infections, the lesson mom taught us about washing our hands helps keep other bugs at bay too.

With the flu season approaching, an infection control co-ordinator reminds not only healthcare workers, patients and visitors to wash their hands, but the general public as well.

"Good handwashing decreases illness everywhere," says Margaret Jay of Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).

"From a general health perspective, it decreases absenteeism at work and in schools."

This is particularly important with the upcoming flu season, says Jay. Flu season is typically from October to April. Flu pandemic planning is on the radar of the infection control team at the hospital.

PRHC has a strong rapport with the Peterborough County-City Health Unit and works with an inter-agency planning team comprised of multiple stakeholders in both the city and county on pandemic planning.

A new national group is also targeting hand hygiene practices. The Health and Hygiene Council Canada (HHCC) is comprised of experts in the field of microbiology, virology, infectious disease, public health and education. The group is exploring current hygiene practices, identifying gaps and aims to educate Canadians about the importance of good hygiene.

According to its website, The HHCC goals are "to provide simple ideas for keeping Canadians and their families healthy, help health practitioners educate Canadians on good hygiene practices and fund and support initiatives that help Canadians learn about good health and hygiene practices."

Some key handwashing moments include: after contact with blood or body fluids, after coughing, sneezing, blowing and scratching the nose, after contact with a potentially-contaminated site, before and after tending to someone who is sick and before giving medication.

According to the HHCC, 53 per cent of people worldwide still wash their hands for 10 seconds or less while the optimal handwashing time is 20 seconds.

To learn more about HHCC and for more handwashing tips, click here.

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