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Attention Gunnedah – clean hands reduce sickness
19 June 2009
The peak season for influenza and gastroenteritis is upon us, that’s why the Peel Community Forum on Health is urging Gunnedah people to take simple precautions to help reduce the spread of the highly contagious and debilitating illnesses.
The Forum, including Barraba resident Bill Rumsby, is leading the partnership between the community and Gunnedah Health Service staff, to drastically reduce the spread of sickness by remembering to always use alcohol-based hand rub when entering or leaving the health service.
Mr Rumsby said hand hygiene was the number one way to prevent the spread of Illness.
“Remembering to clean your hands is the easiest way to help ensure you and everyone you know stay healthy this winter,” Mr Rumsby said. “When we neglect to clean our hands, we unknowingly spread germs from place to place and to other people.
“By using the alcohol-based hand rub provided at Gunnedah Health Service you’re helping to ensure that you don’t bring infections into the health service or take infections back out into the community.
“If you can’t find a hand washing basin or alcohol-based hand rub please ask a staff member where it is – they will be happy you’ve taken the time to protect everyone around you from potential infection,” Mr Rumsby said.
Gunnedah Health Service manager Carole Young said with the community’s help the service could drastically reduce the spread of sickness this winter.
“Health service staff make hand hygiene a priority, but many visitors unknowingly bring in germs and spread illness by touching their loved ones and surfaces without cleaning their hands,” Mrs Young said.
“It’s great to see that the Peel Community Forum on Health is supporting our efforts to minimise spread of flu and gastro this season.”
You can help reduce the spread of illness by:
• Not visiting loved ones at the health service if you are feeling unwell – telephone instead.
• Use ‘cough etiquette’ - use a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, safely dispose of the dirty tissue into a bin immediately after use, then clean your hands.
• Using alcohol-based hand rub when entering or leaving the health service.
If you would like to be a member of Peel Community Forum on Health and represent Gunnedah’s health needs please call Phil Hodges on (02) 6783 3160.
Contact: Emma Gibbs
Phone: (02) 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767
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