Cleanliness is Next to Impossible

In today's busy world, too many of us have too much to do and not enough time to do it. While rushing about our communities, we touch shopping carts and common surfaces in stores, exchange dirty coins and paper money, and shake other people's hands. We then transfer the germs to more areas and surfaces, such as handbags, doorknobs, steering wheels, and even our loved ones.

In our hurry to get our "To Do" lists finished, how often do we stop to wash our hands? And more importantly, how often do our overworked health care providers wash their hands throughout their busy work days?

As patients, we seldom ask medical staff to wash their hands before they touch us, our children or our elderly parents. We just assume they are professionals and would certainly know how important it is to wash their hands after touching sick people. But, like the rest of us, they're in a hurry to get their work done. And just think of all the places bacteria can lurk inside a hospital, such as communal coffeepots, computer keyboards and doctors neckties. Ask your doctor when he last had his tie dry cleaned ... I bet he just hangs it on a hanger at night and then puts it back on to go to work, where he spends another day dragging it through his patients' bedsheets, spreading more bacteria. Do you want your doctor to touch his dirty necktie and then touch you or your loved one?

Poor hand hygiene in healthcare today is real and is costing people their lives. In the year 2004 alone, two million people were contaminated with bacteria while in the hospital or during routine procedures. 90,000 of them died. Many of these infections could have been avoided if basic hygiene practices were enforced.

As the "baby boom" generation ages, more people than ever are caring for their aging parents in their homes. In your role as your aging parent's in-home health care provider, you must always be vigilant about washing your hands. Especially if you know your loved one has an infection: you simply cannot wash your hands too often.

It sounds really simple and you are probably already thinking, "I wash my hands a lot." If this is true, you are one of the few. Be sure to tell other people to do the same. But, chances are, in moments of haste you may forget or you may not be doing as good a job as you think. A lot of people rely on bottles of antibacterial hand sanitizer, which is okay for quick cleanups on the go, but no substitute for good, old fashioned soap and warm water. And if you think about it, how many germs are on the outside of that bottle of hand cleaner you are constantly touching with your DIRTY hands?

The importance of hand washing cannot be emphasized enough. Wash your hands often. Wash your aging parents hands often. Wash your children's hands often, too. If you are caring for a sick or elderly family member and someone comes to visit, be sure to remind them that it is your responsibility to make sure all visitors wash their hands before coming in contact with you or your loved one.

Be sure to also wash all bedding, towels, clothing and other cloth items often in hot, soapy water. And never, ever share personal items such as razors, towels or soap with other people. You wouldn't let them use your toothbrush, right? Treat your other grooming items in the same manner.

These simple steps may save you or your loved one's life.