Health First Focuses On Protecting Brevard From COVID-19 By Installing 2,500 Hand Sanitizer Stations | – SpaceCoastDaily.com

Nearly 2,500 hand sanitizer units are installed across four Health First hospitalsIts definitely a sign of the times. You walk through the sliding doors of your local supermarket (already wearing your face mask), head right toward your shopping cart, and your eyes immediately begin looking for, the disinfectant wipes. (Health First image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA Its definitely a sign of the times. You walk through the sliding doors of your local supermarket (already wearing your face mask), head right toward your shopping cart, and your eyes immediately begin looking for, the disinfectant wipes.

With COVID-19, personal hygiene and health safety have suddenly taken on a whole new level of importance and practice in America and around the world.

But in a hospital setting, its business as usual.

In fact, Health First continues to enhance and prioritize ways for all associates, visitors and caregivers to stay consistently safe through the strategic placement of hand sanitizer stations throughout every floor and unit of its hospitals.

Nearly 2,500 units are installed across four hospitals meaning youd have to work pretty hard to NOT find a hand sanitizer.

We know that people across our communities are already thinking about how to keep themselves safe when they begin getting out and about again, and that includes considering whether they should venture to a clinical facility.

Some of those concerns include:

Getting COVID-19 from another patient

Getting COVID-19 from an associate

Touching doorknobs

Using bathrooms

And thats why cleaning hands is one of the most important steps healthcare providers and everyone alike can take to prevent the spread of infection-causing germs.

Many studies over the years have shown that infections can be prevented in the hospital if healthcare providers use proper hand hygiene, said Dr. Jeffrey Stalnaker, Health Firsts Chief Physician Executive.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol-based hand sanitizers are the most effective products for reducing the number of germs on the hands of healthcare providers and the most recommended method for cleaning your hands in most clinical situations. Consistently practicing hand hygiene is an easy and important way to avoid getting sick or spreading germs to others.

According to Mike Goings, Health First System Vice President for Supply Chain, the stockpile of hand sanitizer was a major focus in the planning for a potential surge from COVID-19.

Our focus consistently across our hospitals and clinical settings is the practice of safe hygiene to protect ourselves, our patients and our visitors, Mike said.

Short of soap and water hand washing, which requires multiple visits to a restroom, the quickest and most convenient way to practice hand hygiene is through the placement of hand sanitizers throughout all of our facilities. When faced with something like a COVID-19 situation, were already prepared at every level.

Of course, while it is not so easy to find hand sanitizer in stores these days, let alone hand soap, hospital systems like Health First build supply into their planning for events such as this.

One way we can ensure faith in our abilities as a healthcare provider is to demonstrate our readiness for situations like this, Mike continued.

Identifying our needs in advance and areas where we might potentially face shortages is all part of our job. We strategize and plan for the what if scenario every day.

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Health First Focuses On Protecting Brevard From COVID-19 By Installing 2,500 Hand Sanitizer Stations | - SpaceCoastDaily.com