Meeting Sam and Marc O’Sé in the Bon Secours Hospital were, from left: Kaila Karen, Helen, Jaydan McCarthy. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
THE Sam Maguire and Tom Markham cups went in for check-up to the Bon Secours hospital on Wednesday to coincide with Global Handwashing Day.
Staff at the Bons got their (clean) hands on both trophies and posed for photos as some of the players also popped in for a visit to the Healthcare Partner to Kerry GAA.
The staff at the Bon Secours Hospital in Tralee are the most compliant in Ireland for hand hygiene and lead the way in handwashing education.
Consultant Microbiologist and Chair of Infection Control at Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, Dr William Dibb, said: “The Bon Secours Hospitals have attained a high level of hand hygiene compliance. It is a tribute to the staff of all grades and roles and ongoing managerial support.”
New research to mark Global Handwashing Day has found that two-thirds (66%) of Munster adults do not wash their hands for the recommended minimum of 15 seconds in order to kill germs that cause infections2.
Handwashing education in the community reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhoea by 31%, reduces diarrhoeal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58% and reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 21%3.
The research was undertaken by Bon Secours Health System to continue to promote good hand hygiene following their recent success in securing the number one spot in the national hand hygiene compliance audit.
The survey also revealed that in Munster:
• 56% do not wash their hands after blowing their nose
• 63% do not wash their hands after sneezing
• 68% do not wash their hand after coughing
• 63% do not wash their hands after travelling on public transport
• 18% do not wash their hands before handling food
• Only 3% admitted to not washing their hands after using the toilet
The national results also highlighted interesting disparities between men and women in their handwashing practices with women (73%) more likely to wash their hands seven or more times per day compared to males (51%) for the same frequency. 63% of women also believe washing your hands is extremely important compared to just 47% of men.
Scroll down for photos…
Showing Barry John Keane, the picture they drew for the Kerry team, were sisters, Anne and Emily O’Reilly. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
Meeting Sam and Marc O’Sé in the Bon Secours Hospital were Ciaran Duffin and his son Leo. Photo by Gavin O’Connor.
