Clean Hands, Healthy Community: Premier Surgical Cleveland Recognizes National Handwashing Awareness Month
December is National Handwashing Awareness Month, and at Premier Surgical Cleveland, we’re using this opportunity to highlight one of the simplest yet most powerful tools we have to protect your health: proper handwashing.
At Premier Surgical Cleveland, our General Surgeons (Dr. Eston Wenger, Dr. Jason Dunn, Dr. Joshua Worthington, and Dr. John Boxberger) see firsthand how basic prevention, like clean hands, can make a big difference in patient outcomes and community health.
Why Handwashing Matters So Much
Our hands touch doorknobs, phones, keyboards, money, and countless other surfaces all day long. Along the way, they pick up germs that can cause illnesses such as colds, flu, COVID-19, stomach bugs, and more serious infections. When we touch our eyes, nose, or mouth, or prepare food for others, those germs can easily spread.
For our surgical patients, hand hygiene is especially important. Clean hands help reduce the risk of surgical site infections and other complications. While our team follows strict medical handwashing and sterilization protocols in the operating room and clinic, what you do at home and in the community is a vital part of the safety chain.
Handwashing and Community Health
Good handwashing isn’t just about protecting yourself — it’s about protecting those around you.
Children, older adults, people with chronic conditions (like diabetes or heart disease), and those recovering from surgery can be more vulnerable to infections. When everyone practices good hand hygiene, we help protect our neighbors, coworkers, and family members who may not be able to fight off illness as easily.
In a community like Cleveland, where we live, work, and raise families together, handwashing is a simple way to show we care for one another.
Handwashing Basics: Do Them Right, Every Time
Here’s a quick reminder of the basics:
- When to wash your hands:
- Before eating or preparing food
- Before and after caring for a wound or surgical incision
- After using the bathroom or changing a diaper
- After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- After touching pets or handling garbage
- After visiting public places or touching shared surfaces
- How to wash your hands:
- Wet hands with clean, running water.
- Apply soap and lather well, including backs of hands, between fingers, and under nails.
- Scrub for at least 20 seconds (humming “Happy Birthday” twice is a good timer).
- Rinse thoroughly under clean, running water.
- Dry with a clean towel or air dry.
If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol until you can wash properly.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
At Premier Surgical Cleveland, infection prevention is built into everything we do, from careful hand hygiene and sterile techniques to patient education before and after surgery. We want you to feel confident that your health and safety are always our top priorities.
This December, National Handwashing Awareness Month is a great reminder that small actions can have a big impact. By making proper handwashing a daily habit, you’re helping protect yourself, your family, and our entire Cleveland community.
If you have questions about staying healthy before or after surgery, or would like to schedule a consultation with one of our surgeons, please contact us online or call our office at (423) 472-5423. We’re here to help you live healthier, safer, and stronger.