Guest post by Caring Support
Did you know that healthcare workers are more exposed than anyone else to viral infections such as COVID-19? They are. In fact, due to the nature of their work, people in the healthcare field have to take additional precautions to protect themselves from germs and contaminants, especially considering how they could accidentally infect their family members, friends, and peers if they are not careful.
On that note, this article offers a series of quick disinfection tips for healthcare workers to stay safe during flu season, COVID-19 outbreaks, and year-round. Keep reading to find out.
Quick Disinfection Tips for Healthcare Workers
Nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers could use these quick tips to help lessen the chances of accidentally infecting themselves or their loved ones at home with contaminants found in healthcare settings. See our recommendations below:
Disinfect all objects carried from home to work and vice-versa
Many viruses like the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on diverse materials. To kill these microorganisms and prevent the transmission of diseases, it is essential to disinfect all objects carried from home to work or the other way around after every shift.
Choose the right disinfectant for the job
Healthcare workers should consider EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectants to treat surfaces and objects. These disinfectants are appropriate for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare settings and can be found on List N by the Environmental Protection Agency. To guarantee effectiveness, users should let the product dwell for the appropriate contact times as indicated on each product’s label.
Perform adequate hand hygiene
Healthcare workers should hygienize their hands immediately before and after removing gloves, and after having any type of bare-skin contact—no matter how brief—with potentially infected fluids or contaminated surfaces. The best way to do this is washing with soap and water, but hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol works just as well if hands are not visibly soiled.
PPE is key
Healthcare workers should wear disposable personal protective equipment, like gloves and gowns, for all patient-related tasks, but also when disinfecting examination rooms, handling medical equipment, or disposing of trash, laundry, or medical waste. How To Protect Your Skin From The Effects Of Prolonged PPE Use
Refrain from entering rooms where patients have been discharged without PPE
Once a patient has been discharged or transferred to another room, healthcare workers should refrain from entering vacant rooms without using PPE, at least until the space has been allowed to ventilate or an air filter is operated to remove contaminants in the air. After this time, the room should be cleaned and disinfected before further use.
Disinfection Products for Healthcare Workers
These are tried and true products for healthcare workers to quickly and efficiently sanitize their skin, surrounding objects, and medical spaces in order to keep infections at bay.
SaniGo Sanitizer Wristband - We can't think of a better accessory for healthcare workers to wear on a daily basis than this practical and durable sanitizer wristband. When working at a healthcare facility, clean hands are a must at all times, and this product makes that possible.
Mini Nano Personal Sanitizer Sprayer - This mini device comes with a USB charging cable and an internal battery that can be used for 20 mins continuously before needing to be recharged. It is small and lightweight, so it fits in a backpack, purse, or somewhere in your car.
Nano Atomizer Thermal Fogger - This model works by producing a dry fog that disinfects on contact, making it perfect for hospitals, dental offices, medical clinics, emergency vehicles, and much more. This kind of thermal fogger is made to kill 99.99% of all viruses and disinfect all surfaces, especially when paired with a hospital-grade disinfectant solution. Which Fogging Machines are the Best and Most Practical for Disinfecting Hospitals?
EnviroNize Anolyte Cleansing Wash Airless Pump - Powerful on germs but gentle on the skin, this product is made from 100% natural ingredients with no added dyes, fragrances, or triclosan. It is also alcohol-free and formulated in such a way that it cleans without over-drying the skin, while also maintaining a balanced pH.
Ultra-Lyte Disinfectant - Ultra-Lyte is ready to use with no mixing required, so users just have to spray away. It is recommended for disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces and spaces in hospitals, nursing homes, and many other medical facilities. Additionally, it can be used to pre-clean or decontaminate critical or semi-critical medical devices prior to sterilization.
Read More:Cleaning and Disinfecting Nursing Homes During the Pandemic
Read More: How To Disinfect Medical Clinics
We hope these quick tips and recommended products help healthcare workers feel safer on the job and protect their relatives and anyone around them from viral infections. If you have any questions about this topic, leave us a comment below!
Thank you for reading!
About the author: Caring Support
Caring Support is a mobile-friendly job-matching platform that streamlines the hiring process for healthcare organizations while helping skillful healthcare professionals find their dream jobs. The platform is quickly becoming an open hub that provides employers and workers with resources to better their organizations and further develop their careers, ultimately revolutionizing the healthcare industry. To learn more about Caring Support, visit www.caringsupport.com/