Hand hygiene
The most important thing we can all do to prevent infection is to wash our hands regularly. Wall-mounted hand sanitizer pumps are available throughout the facility.
Wash your hands every time you:
- Enter and exit the facility, an inpatient unit or an inpatient room
- Enter and exit a washroom
- Blow your nose, cough or sneeze
- Get ready to eat or drink
- Finish eating or drinking
- Handle potentially-contaminated items (e.g. call bell, phone)
- Come in contact with another person, particularly if they are ill
Personal protective equipment
Anyone entering the room of an ill person (e.g. staff, visitors) is required to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, gowns, gloves) for infection control purposes. Please speak to a member of the care team for assistance accessing personal protective equipment.
Respiratory etiquette
Every time you cough or sneeze you release small droplets through your mouth and nose. Infectious particles in the droplets of a cough/sneeze can make people sick.
- If you are not wearing a mask, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing/sneezing
- If a tissue is not available, cough/sneeze into the bend of your arm, not your hands
- Wash your hands every time you touch your nose or mouth
Help stop the spread of germs
- Wash your hands frequently
- Ask family and friends NOT to visit if they are ill
- Get the flu shot*
*Flu vaccines are available to patients in the fall. Visitors are encouraged to get their flu shot where it is available in the community.
