My Tiny Hands

1) Why is it so important for people to wash their hands before touching my baby?

2) I am a first time expectant mom. Do I really need a sign to tell people not to touch my baby's hands?

3) How do people get germs on their hands?

4) Do people still need to wash hands around my baby even if they don't feel sick?

5) What is the proper way to wash hands before touching a baby?

6) What if I need to touch my baby and I am not near a sink to wash my hands?

7) What is antimicrobial resistance?

8) What if I am having trouble getting others to follow the "hand washing rules" with my new baby?

9) Where can I find more information on hand washing and germs?

1) Why is it so important for people to wash their hands before touching my baby?
All newborns and especially preterm newborns are at high risk for infection during the first several months of life. During this period, infection represents one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in new babies*

One of the biggest causes of the spread of germs comes from other people's hands. Everyone wants to touch an adorable little baby's hands - but they do not realize what is creeping on their hands from the doorknob they just touched, the hand they just shook, the shopping cart they just touched, etc.

Until a baby has had enough time to build up his or her immune system, a touch on the hand from a well intentioned person can cause your new baby serious problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure everyone that may come into contact with your baby knows they have to wash their hands before touching.

The world has germs in it and your baby will touch them and eat them every single day. But that first year, some germs can do more harm than good.
*Medici, 1983

2) I am a first time expectant mom - do I really need a sign to tell people not to touch my baby's hands?

I thought it would be common sense to people, especially strangers, not to touch my baby's hands. I was so wrong and from talking to other parents, they were surprised about this as well. Many times, people take you by surprise and quickly reach in and touch your baby—you don't even have a chance to ask them not to touch (besides the fact that it is uncomfortable to ask). Having the "Please Wash" sign will make your life easier and assist in keeping your
baby healthy.

3) How do people get germs on their hands?
Here is just a short list of how people get infectious germs on their hands and some places germs hide—these infectious germs could wind up in your baby's mouth:
* From coughing or sneezing directly into hands
* Rubbing eyes
* Not washing after going to the bathroom or changing a diaper
* No washing after preparing food
* Doorknobs
* Elevator buttons
* Shopping cart handles
* Escalator handrails
* Public restroom counters and changing tables
* Pens for public use (i.e. in the bank, grocery store, pharmacy)
* Shaking hands
* Public high-chairs
* ATM Machines
* Computer keyboards

4) Do people still need to wash hands around my baby even if they don't feel sick?
According to the CDC, the time from when a person is exposed to some viruses such as the flu, to when symptoms begin is about one to four days, with an average of about two days. The CDC also says that adults may be contagious from one day prior to becoming sick and for three to seven days after they first develop symptoms.
Some children may be contagious for longer than a week.

With these facts in mind, people can still be contagious even if they do not feel sick. That is why it is so important to make everyone wash their hands before they touch your baby, whether they feel sick or not.

5) What is the proper way to wash hands before touching a baby?
Some may think that a quick rinse under cold water with no soap is "washing their hands." Unfortunately, that
does not do much. Below is the recommended way that you and others should wash your hands before touching your baby.

* First wet your hands (make sure to use warm water) and apply liquid or clean bar soap—it does not have to be antibacterial soap.
* Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all surfaces (under finger nails, wrists, palms, back of hands, fingers)
* Continue for at least 10–15 seconds (time equals about two rounds of singing "Happy Birthday" in your head. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
* Rinse well and dry your hands. If possible, dry with a clean disposable paper towels.
* To prevent chapping and cracking, you can apply some lotion after drying hands (optional)
* Hand washing information above comes from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the American
Society for Microbiology

6) What if I need to touch my baby and I am not near a sink to wash my hands?
Alcohol-based hand sanitizers—which don't require use of water—are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. They're actually more effective than hand washing in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Commercially prepared hand sanitizers contain ingredients that help prevent skin dryness. In fact, use of these products can result in less skin dryness and irritation than hand washing.

Not all hand sanitizers are created equal, however. Some "waterless" hand sanitizers don't contain alcohol. Use only the alcohol-based products.

To use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

* Apply it to the palm of your hand. Read the label for dosing instructions.
* Rub your hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands, until they're dry.

If your hands are visibly dirty, however, wash with soap and water rather than a sanitizer.*
*MayoClinic.com

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers do not contribute to antimicrobial resistance because alcohol evaporates completely, there is no alcohol left behind to promote adaptation. Alcohol has been used in health care for many years with minimal adverse effects.*
*www.purell.com

7) What is antimicrobial resistance?
The discovery of effective agents to prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria and other pathogenic microorganisms has been one of the most important developments of modern medicine. However, microorganisms have a short generation time—from minutes to hours—and can therefore respond rapidly to changes in their environment. Thus, as antimicrobial agents are introduced into the environment, microorganisms respond to the selective pressures of these agents by becoming resistant—that is, able to survive and reproduce in the presence of the agent. And, as long as antimicrobial agents are in use, this process will continue to occur. The consequences of increasing resistance are enormous. Resistance leads to increased morbidity and mortality, the need to use more toxic and expensive therapies, and the need to expend ever greater resources on monitoring the development of
resistance and surveillance.*
*www.cdc.gov

8) What if I am having trouble getting others to follow the "hand washing rules" with my new baby?
Coming Soon: a friendly print out and e-mail message available from My Tiny Hands to your friends and family about importance of hand washing around your new baby.

9)Where can I find more information on hand washing and germs?
The below sites have good information that is reliable:
http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/
www.washup.org
www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=8113ABC9-2782-41C3-99A825A54DCDD6B1
www.purell.com