Experts in Infection Prevention and Control emphasize to us the importance of hand hygiene in Healthcare environments.
And rightly so… the World Health Organization advises that ‘hand hygiene is the most important measure to avoid the transmission of harmful germs and prevent health care-associated infections.’
Needless to say, handrails form an integral part of patient safety in hospitals and long term care facilities, and being they are constantly handled, a medium for further spread of infection.
Careful selection of handrail material and finishes are important considerations.
- RIGID VINYL – excellent choice offering many profiles and colours. Easy to clean and disinfect. Good value for money.
- STAINLESS STEEL – very smooth finish, and highly cleanable. Costly. Recommended in surgical areas.
- WOOD – can be very esthetically pleasing, but not a good long term solution in healthcare. When clear finishes wear down, bare wood can be a haven for bacteria.
We need to consider in our deliberations what is the most appropriate handrail based on particular circumstances.
A dollar spent now can result in many dollars saved later.
Source: New feed
