Family visitor information

Outbreaks of illness sometimes occur in health care facilities and can be a stressful time for families and staff. Outbreaks are most often caused by common viruses that produce symptoms of gastroenteritis, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, or respiratory illness, such as fever, cough and sore throat. These viruses are generally spread from person to person, or by touching contaminated surfaces, objects or equipment and then touching your eyes, mouth or nose or handling food or drink. For the health and well-being of everyone, it is important to implement measures to control the spread of infection as soon as possible.

Ways you can help stop the spread of illness:

  • Do not visit if you are ill
  • Follow the outbreak and infection control measures recommended
  • Limit your visit to your family or friend, as much as possible
  • If you are visiting an ill family member of friend, please check with the staff prior to entering his or her room
  • Clean your hands often with liquid soap and running water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Clean your hands
    • When entering the facility and before leaving
    • Before entering and after leaving a resident's room
    • Before eating or assisting your family or friend with his/her meals
    • After going to the washroom or blowing your nose
    • Get immunized against influenza every year

Washing your hands

  1. Wet hands under running water
  2. Apply liquid soap
  3. Lather and rub hands for at least 15 seconds
  4. Rinse hands
  5. Towel or air dry hands
  6. Turn taps off with a towel or your sleeve

Cleaning Your Hands with a Hand Sanitizer

  1. Place a quarter-size drop of alcohol- based hand sanitizer in your palm
  2. Rub hands together, palm to palm
  3. Rub back of each hand with palm and fingers of the other hand
  4. Rub around each thumb
  5. Rub fingertips of each hand back and forth in the other hand
  6. Rub until your hands are dry (at least 15 seconds)

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