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SCHOOLS, RESTAURANTS, BUSINESSES - Make Your
Schools, Restaurants, Businesses
Safer - According to the Wisconsin Division
of Public Health, hand washing is the
most important measure to prevent
contracting MRSA.
According to Wisconsin
Administrative Code:
Food Employees shall clean their
hands and exposed portions of
their arms for at least 20 seconds
immediately before engaging in food
preparation including working with
exposed food, clean equipment and
utensils, and unwrapped single service
and single-use articles and:
- After touching bare human body
parts other than clean hands and
clean, exposed portions of arms
- After using the toilet room
- After coughing, sneezing, using a
handkerchief or disposable tissue
using tobacco, eating, or drinking
- During food preparation, as often
as necessary to remove soil and
contamination and to prevent cross
contamination when changing tasks
- Before putting on gloves for working
with food
- After engaging in other activities that
contaminate the hands.
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MRSA (methicillin resistant
Staphylococcus aureus) is a
type of S. aureus bacterium that
has developed resistance to
the antibiotics usually used
to treat the infection.
Recent reports by WISN 12
News concerning the closing
of a Brookfield School,
High-Tech Institute, brings
concern for local schools.
According to The Center of
Disease Control (CDC), one of
the ways to combat this highly
contagious and dangerous
bacteria is simple hygiene.
Traffic and Parking Control Co.,
Inc. (TAPCO) has manufactured
a series of decals to remind people
who frequent schools, dormitories,
military barracks, crowded
households, correctional facilities
and daycare centers to simply
wash their hands. These locations
have factors that make it easier
for MRSA to be transmitted. These
factors, referred to as the 5 C’s,
are as follows:
- Crowding
- Frequent skin-to-skin Contact
- Compromised skin
(i.e. cuts or abrasions)
- Contaminated items
and surfaces
- Lack of Cleanliness
The CDC, along with parents
and school officials, would like
to do everything possible to
protect students from MRSA skin
infections.
Enforce hand hygiene with soap and water
or alcohol-based hand sanitizer before eating
and after using the bathroom.
To prevent spreading MRSA to others it is
important to clean your hands frequently.
You, your family, and others in close contact
should wash their hands frequently with soap
and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Installing TAPCO’s “Stop Wash Your Hands” and “Stop Did You Wash Your Hands” decals will
also help enforce both students and staff to
wash their hands before exiting the bathroom.
Both decals are available in English or Spanish. |
