Hand Hygiene: Helping Protect you from Coronavirus

Learn how to wash you hands like a healthcare worker to help prevent infections i.e. coronavirus, cold & flu, norovirus.

Novel Coronavirus Outbreak

Coronaviruses is a large family of viruses that vary in severity. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the recent Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China is associated with exposures in a seafood market in Wuhan. Coronavirus is most commonly spread between animals and from animal to human. However, human-to-human transmission has occurred in the recent outbreak. Li Bin, China’s National Health Commission Minister stated that there is a possibility the virus will mutate, increasing the spread of infection. (1) In China the outbreak has already resulted in hundreds of people being infected and the death of 17 to date. Subsequently, hand hygiene could be key to helping to protect you from this novel coronavirus, the WHO recommending frequent hand washing at critical times throughout the day.

Therefore, schools, airports, communities, offices and the general public must all be aware of the measures needed to protect you from this new coronavirus. Cases have now been reported in a number of other countries and it is important that you take sensible precautions to minimise the risk to you your family, customers and colleagues. The WHO and CDC recommend the following.

Preventing the spread of Novel Coronavirus

Importantly, the WHO & CDC, recommend some key actions to help protect you from the spread of Coronavirus:

1) Regular hand washing with soap and water
2) Covering mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing
3) Avoid close contact with people showing symptoms
4) Wear a face-mask
5) Ensure you cook meat and eggs thoroughly

Symptoms

Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of infection. According to the WHO, common signs of infection include:

1) Fever
2) Coughing & sneezing
3) Shortness of breath

Not only this, but infection can also cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. (2)

Hand Hygiene Solution: Helping Protect you from Coronavirus

As a result, you should avoid close contact with people that are showing these symptoms. However, it is also imperative that you wash your hands regularly to prevent the spread of infection. According to Dr Connor Bamford at Queen’s University Belfast, hand hygiene is vastly more effective than face masks to help protect yourself from viruses. (3) Therefore, because of the importance of hand hygiene in protecting you from coronavirus, everyone must ensure that they are washing their hands correctly. There are a number of guides on how to wash your hands, but according to the WHO, practicing the 6 pose technique ensures your hands are cleaned thoroughly. You can learn this technique, used by Healthcare Workers Globally, through the SureWash technology, a fun interactive learning system available through the SureWash Pocket App.

Download the Surewash APP to fight infection today. For larger organisations, the SureWash GO is the perfect solution to help employees and the general public stay healthy.

For further information, contact info@surewash.com!