Five Tips To Prevent Infection

3/31/2020 (Permalink)

In these times of uncertainty, preparation is the best defense against COVID-19. SERVPRO professionals are trained and certified in adhering to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards. And we’re here to help – 24/7. We can all do our part to combat this crisis by following these 5 steps: 

1. Clean Your Hands       

• Use soap and warm water. Rub your hands really well for at least 15 seconds. Rub your palms, fingernail, in between your fingers, and the backs of your hands.
• Or, if your hands do not look dirty, clean them with alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Rub the sanitizer all over your hands, especially under your nails and between your fingers, until your hands are dry
• Clean your hands before touching or eating food. Clean them after you use the bathroom, take out the trash, change a diaper, visit someone who is ill, or play with a pet. 

2. Make sure health care providers clean their hands or wear gloves.  

• Doctors, nurses, dentist and other health care providers come into contact with lots of bacteria and viruses. So before they treat you, ask them if they've cleaned their hands.
• Healthcare providers should wear clean gloves when they perform tasks such as taking blood, touching wounds or body fluids and examining your mouth or private parts. Don't be afraid to ask them if they should wear gloves. 

3. Cover your mouth and nose. 

• Many diseases are spread through sneezes and coughs.  When you sneeze or cough, the germs can travel 3 feet or more! Cover your mouth and nose to prevent the spread of infection to others.
• Use a tissue! Keep tissues handy at home, at work and in your pocket. Be sure to throw away used tissues and then clean your hands.
• If you don't have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the bend of your elbow or hands. If you use your hands, clean them right away. 

4. If you are sick, avoid close contact with others.   

• If you are sick, stay away from other people or stay home. Don't shake hands or touch others      
• When you go for medical treatment, call ahead and ask if there's anything you can do to avoid infecting people in the waiting room

4. Avoid close contact

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.