There has been a lot of talk about the H1N1 influenza pandemic these past few months. One of the ways to stay healthy and protect yourself and others from the flu and other germs is simply to wash your hands. Easy, right? Not according to a study by The Minnesota Department of Health done at the Minnesota State Fair. They found that only 67% of adults wash their hands. Children were worse, with only 58% of them washing.

So how DO you wash your hands? What’s the “proper technique”? Follow these steps for a thorough wash:

1. Wet hands with warm water

2. Soap up

3. Scrub your hands well

4. Rinse your hands with warm water, fingers pointing down

5. Dry vigoursly with a paper towel

6. Use the paper towel to turn off the water and open the door

The Association of Professionals in Infection Control (APIC) released a statement requiring all health care workers (HCW’s) to get vaccinated against influenza. The position statement paper can be found on APIC’s website, or by this direct link.

In accordance with the statement, the Barnes Jewish Hospital System and their 13 hospitals announced that it will require all HCW’s to get vaccinated this season, beginning on October 15, 2008. A link to the press release can be found here:  http://www.bjc.org/bjc_newsroom_content.aspx?id=6092

What do you think of these new developments?

For information regarding the upcoming influenza season please visit: http://preventinfluenza.org/professionals.asp

This site includes information regarding the different types of vaccines, information on the different populations who should get vaccinated, healthcare worker vaccination and when to get the shot or mist.