Essential Steps to Safe Clean Care

This is especially for those who visit the hospital. It is important because patients in the hospital are at risk of infection and this may prolong stay and delay recovery.

1. Hand washing
The single most important way of reducing infection is by washing hands. Clean your hands regularly, especially
- before and after visiting patient
- on entering and leaving hospital
- after using the toilet and bathroom

You may use soap and water, but if your hands are visibly clean you may use alcohol gel instead, which is usually placed at the entrance to all wards.

2. Manage children
Children should be discouraged from crawling on the floor and must be supervised at all times.

3. The environment
Help keep the hospital environment clean tidy by:
- disposing rubbish into the bins
- cleaning off any mud or dirt on foot before entering the hospital

4. Flowers
Flowers have been sort of like a traditional gift for the patient. However, it is actually impractical within hospitals as it pose risk of infection.

5. Wound management
Avoid touching any wounds, drip, etc on patients. If you accidentally do so, wash your hands immediately.

6. Isolation room
Get permission from the nurse counter before entering the room.

7. Visiting hours
Adhere to the hospital policy and the visiting times. Try to limit the number of visitors at the patient bedside at all times as patient needs to rest.

8. Personal hygiene
Shower frequently and change into clean clothes regularly. Do not walk about in bare feet, wear slippers or shoes. Visitors who are coughing and sneezing or feeling ill, avoid visiting patients in hospitals.