Kingsford care facility stresses importance of hygiene.
KINGSFORD -- Swine flu, or the H1-N1 virus, has made headlines around the globe over the past few weeks. Though it's no laughing matter, one care facility in Kingsford is making hygiene education and preparation for infectious diseases a little more fun for their staff.
The nursing staff at Manorcare Health and Rehabilitation Services take their jobs very seriously, especially when it comes to prevention of infectious diseases. With the H1-N1 outbreak still on a lot of people's minds, they're emphasizing the importance of handwashing.
It sounds simple, but it could save lives.
"Most illnesses could be prevented if people did more hand hygiene and were more conscious of handwashing and using the alcohol sanitizers," said registered nurse Karla Maynard, director of care delivery at Manorcare.
To emphasize the importance of this, the nursing managers decided to hold a poster contest for the staff to heighten awareness. They feel that, though it's crucial for staff to do, it's also important to keep the mood up. That doesn't mean, however, that they're taking the threat of infectious diseases lightly.
"We notified all of our family members that there was this potential outbreak so they got this educational letter," said RN Gina Drake, director of nursing services.
They're also assuring everyone that the measures to prevent an outbreak are already in place.
"It's not really anything new for us," said Barbara Hill, the facility's RN assessment coordinator. "It's just heightening awareness of it."
The poster contest wrapped up on May 20, when the entries were judged by members of the staff. The education on infectious diseases, however, will continue long after that.
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