Best Practices for Managing Contagious Illnesses

Man wearing face mask with hand out in front

From coronavirus to the chicken pox, the spread of many common and contagious illnesses can be managed effectively with regular personal hygiene practices.
Busy spaces like offices, schools and hospitals are particularly prone for germs to pass from person to person, but you can help make these environments safer for yourself and those around you.

If you’re wondering how not to get sick, follow these simple steps as your best form of defence when it comes to avoiding nasty bugs.

Wash Your Hands Regularly

Person washing hands with water and soap in bathroom sink

Simply put, soap works. Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap for at least 20 seconds is extremely effective at stopping the spread of germs. This makes hand washing an essential tactic in the fight against contagious illnesses.

Most people frequently touch their face without realising, allowing germs to enter the body through the mouth, nose or eyes. Germs from unwashed hands can also contaminate food and drinks, further increasing the risk of infection. This is why washing your hands before eating or drinking is a particularly important habit. Having clean hands can drastically reduce your chances of catching and passing on contagious illnesses

Investing in washroom products like hand soap dispenser units for your workplace bathroom can help encourage the adoption of good hygiene practices.


Cover Your Mouth and Nose

Man sneezing into tissue

Whether you’re feeling unwell or in good health, you should always cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. This simple hygiene practice prevents small droplets of body fluids travelling through the air and transmitting to others. Even if there’s no one around, your germs can still land on surfaces and be picked up by the next person who touches that surface.

The safest way to help prevent the spread of any contagious illnesses is to sneeze or cough into your flexed elbow or a tissue. Then dispose of the tissue immediately and wash your hands.

Keep a bottle of hand sanitiser close by so you can disinfect your hands after coughing or sneezing.

 

Throw Away Contaminated Materials

Doctor putting plastic gloves in clinical waste bin

Disposing of items that may have been contaminated with germs or bodily fluids is crucial to stopping contagious illnesses, especially in healthcare settings. To ensure the safety of patients, employees and the public, items like used gloves and needles need to be securely disposed of in clinical waste bins.

Designed to facilitate the safe storage of clinical waste, these bins play a crucial role in hospital infection control. Working with a professional clinical waste disposal service will ensure any contaminated materials you dispose of will be handled appropriately and minimise any risk.

Med-X stocks a range of clinical waste bins designed for internal and external clinical waste.

It’s everyone’s responsibility to stop the spread of contagious illnesses. By educating yourself on good hygiene practices and infection control and putting these into action, you can protect yourself and those around you.


To learn more about how you can make your home or workplace more hygienic, check out Med-X’s range of infection control products today.

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