Cold and flu season has arrived. Germs can spread rapidly in a residential setting, making infection control procedures critical during this time of year.
The CDC states that hand hygiene is one of the most important precautions against spreading disease. It recommends washing hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds. Brookhaven Retreat’s Infection Control Committee requires all staff to wash their hands for one to two minutes whenever needed to prevent the transmission of pathogenic organisms among clients and staff.
The CDC also reports that receiving a flu vaccine is the single most effective way to prevent the flu. It recommends receiving a flu vaccine annually in October, as most influenza outbreaks begin in October. Because the body takes two weeks to develop the antibodies that protect against the flu, it is recommended that the flu vaccine be taken earlier in the season.
Good hand hygiene, balanced diet, exercise and proper sleep all protect the body’s immune system, but receiving the flu vaccine protects others from germs that even the best immune system might not keep at bay. Each autumn, Brookhaven Retreat supplements its care and safety procedures with an awareness campaign that encourages all employees to receive the flu vaccine.
Continual efforts to prevent the spread of infection keep women safe and allow mental health treatment to proceed unhindered by health concerns. Brookhaven Retreat’s annual flu vaccine and hand washing campaigns are part of a larger effort that maintains the highest standards of patient care and safety in its facility. On October 20-26, all staff members were encouraged to participate in maintaining the safety of the facility by receiving a free influenza vaccine.
