View a printable version of our brochure on
patient safety

What can I do to reduce healthcare associated infections?

Four easy steps

1. Wash your hands

Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds.

Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol—based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands.

Clean your hands before;

• touching or eating food
• after you use the bathroom or change a diaper
• take out the garbage
• visit someone who is ill
• after blowing your nose
• or play with a pet
• before and after entering a hospital

2. Make sure health care providers clean their hands and wear gloves

• Doctors, nurses, dentists and other health care providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So, before they treat you, ask them if they've washed their hands.
• Health care providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking throat cultures, pulling teeth, taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids, and examining your private parts. Don't be afraid to gently remind them to wear gloves.

3. Cover your mouth and nose

Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs. When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 1 metre or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others.

• Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and then wash your hands.
• If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow. If you use your hands, wash them right away.

4. Avoid close contact & stay home if you're sick

• If you are sick, stay away from other people. Stay home if you have a fever. Call work or school and tell them you are sick.
• When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there's anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room.
• Don't come to the hospital to visit patients when you are not well. Send them a get well wish through our “Healthy Wishes Card."