Hospitals can be scary places.
To cut to the chase, no.
This means youre at high risk of contractingnosocomial infectionsor healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
These are infections patients develop while being treated for something else.
For example, you could check into the hospital with some broken bones and develop the flu.
The same goes for if youre visiting someone else.
The healthcare personnel caring for the patient can advise on any additional precautions that may be needed.
Weve mentioned good hand hygiene a few times already, but what does that mean, exactly?
This is a really hard habit to break, but your immune system will thank you.
Its widely used in the medical community and can kill the cold and flu viruses.
So Garibay suggests you stick towashing your handsif youre around someone with those kinds of symptoms.
Additionally, hand sanitizer isnt really effective if your hands are visibly dirty.
Wash or sanitize your hands before going into their room.
Wash or sanitize your hands when you leave.
Doctors follow these sanitization steps themselves, so its a good habit to emulate.
Illustration by Jim Cooke.
