May 7, 2012
STOP! Clean Your Hands Day Recognized in Newfoundland and Labrador
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene to reduce the spread of infections. The third annual STOP! Clean Your Hands Day is taking place today (Monday, May 7).
“Hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways of preventing the transmission of infectious diseases,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “It is important to adopt good hand hygiene practices in order to keep yourself and others healthy.”
The Provincial Government’s hand hygiene campaign Clean, Cover, and Contain was first launched in 2006 to inform adults, teenagers and children on how to maintain proper hand hygiene. To protect yourself and others from the spread of bacteria and viruses, remember to:
- Clean your hands regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer;
- Use a tissue or your arm to cover coughs and sneezes; and,
- Contain your illness by staying home and resting.
“We encourage residents of the province to clean their hands and to clean them often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub,” said Minister Sullivan. “Good hand hygiene is a simple and effective way to protect yourself from illness and reduce the spread of bacteria, infections, and other communicable diseases.”
A series of educational posters are available through the Department of Health and Community Services and the regional health authorities. Hygiene campaign posters and print materials are also available at: www.gov.nl.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/hygiene/. Activities that encourage good hand hygiene will also take place throughout Newfoundland and Labrador throughout the week.
STOP! Clean Your Hands Day is an initiative of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Accreditation Canada and Hospital Infection Control Canada. This national event coincides with a global initiative of the World Health Organization, Save Lives: Clean Your Hands.
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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 699-6524
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
2012 05 07 12:10 p.m.