“Practice and Participate”

The third week in October is designated as National Infection Control Week in Canada and the U.S. This year, Community and Hospital Infection Control Association Manitoba Chapter with the support of the Manitoba Institute for Patient Safety is launching a campaign to encourage all Manitobans to ‘Practice and Participate’ in achieving safer health care. It is estimated that 8,000 Canadians die from health care associated infections each year. Over fifty percent of these infections are preventable! During National Infection Control Week and every week, we all play an important role in preventing infection.

The campaign advises Manitobans to practice and participate by;

• Cleaning their hands frequently

• Asking their health care providers to clean their hands

• Covering their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing

• Keeping immunizations up to date

Infection Prevention and Control Professionals believe that both personnel in health care facilities and the public who access the health services can achieve safer healthcare by following the few simple steps outlined above.

You can help to make National Infection Control Week more successful by getting actively involved, displaying campaign material and spreading the word. Click the following links to download the campaign poster, and tent card with base or a full-page version.

Clean Your Hands
Clean hands are the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs that cause infections. Alcohol based hand rub can be used to clean your hands when they are not visibly dirty. It is also less drying to the hands than traditional hand washing. Traditional (soap and water) washing is also an effective way to prevent the spread of germs. Whichever method you choose to clean your hands, clean them often. Clean hands can save lives!

Ask Your Healthcare Provider to Clean Their Hands
Have asked your healthcare provider to clean their hands? Many people feel too uncomfortable to ask, but it is important to be proactive and involved in your own health care.

Cover Your Mouth and Nose When Coughing or Sneezing
Covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing is called Respiratory Etiquette. This practice prevents the spread of respiratory germs such as Influenza (the ‘Flu’) and colds. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your upper sleeve when you coughing or sneezing, not your hands. Coughing and sneezing into your hands can spread those germs to others. If you’ve used a tissue to cover your cough or sneeze, you should clean your hands afterward. If you are visiting a health care facility when you have a cough or a cold, you may be asked to wear a surgical mask to protect others from infection.

Keep Your Immunizations Up To Date
Many infectious diseases are vaccine preventable. Keeping your immunizations up to date protects you from many of these infections. In addition to getting an annual flu shot, speak with your health care provider about other vaccines that can protect you.

CHICA Manitoba wishes you a safe and healthy Infection Control Week!