Hospitals are made to heal a patient. But research suggests that 1 in 25 patients is dealing with a recently contracted infection on any given day. Most of the times, patients are infected because a general lack of hygiene by the people surrounding them. This includes hospital visitors. Obviously this isn’t something that should be the case, or has to be the case. All you need to know to combat this issue is what causes it, and the countermeasures you can take to fight against it.

Every decent hospital has guidelines. Always read those guidelines and follow them without question. The hospital guidelines exist to protect all of you. They exist to minimalize the spread of diseases and keep everyone safe. Even if you’re not part of the staff, it’s a good idea to stay up-to-date with the latest immunizations as well. Get all of your vaccination shots. Your age doesn’t matter, doing this will ensure that mistakes will be kept to a minimum.

Always having tissues on you will contribute to the hospitals’ overall cleanliness. Never be afraid to hand out a tissue to someone that looks like he could use one. Keep your mouth covered during coughs or sneezes, your own or someone else’s. A simple sneeze or cough can travel more than 3 feet. But with a set of tissues, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Health care workers shouldn’t forget to use their masks, gloves and protective gear when dealing with a patient.

And perhaps the most important part of healthcare infection control, wash your hands. All the time. This is the best defense against infections, but also the point where it goes wrong the most. Wash your hands with warm water and soap for a good 15 seconds. And while this may seem excessive, a simple handshake could cause have large consequences if one of the participants is neglecting their sanitary habits. Don’t hesitate to ask everyone you come in contact with to wash their hands first.

Infections are things that close to a million patients lose their lives over on a yearly basis.They slowly infect the body while showing vague symptoms that make it difficult to identify and easily spread to another victim if given a chance. These infections are an issue that should be taken seriously. If you want to help fight against this problem, follow the tips I mentioned before and educate your fellow hospital-goers as well. You’d do well not to underestimate the power of infections. But more importantly, don’t underestimate your own power. You have the potential of preventing the death of dozens. Don’t waste it.

More about infection control and asbestos removal precautions at http://gumdiseaseprevention.org/how-to-protect-your-loved-ones-from-asbestos-exposure/