Read my Q&A with WaterAid below to learn more about how I use clean water at work to combat COVID-19 and protect my patients, myself and my family.
How often do you use water in your day-to-day work - is water important?
Very important! I am always washing my hands to keep my smallest charges healthy and safe. I scrub in before my care begins, then again before and after each patient interaction. For 12 hours a day, handwashing is the first line of defense to keep them safe.
Has COVID changed anything for you at work?
In some ways, COVID has changed everything. From visitation for our families to wearing masks for the entire shift, our processes have changed. I think as healthcare professionals we are frontline to teach the public about good handwashing and the benefits. People, even us, do not realize how much we touch our face, our mouths and noses until something like this happens and we have to reexamine everything we do to keep each other safe.
Can you imagine doing your job without clean water?
Absolutely not! Besides using clean water for handwashing, if we did not have clean water to bathe newborns, the infection risk would skyrocket.
As a medical worker, what steps do you take to protect yourself?
Any place where you deal with germs increases your risk to bring it home. It may sound funny, but I don''t wear my work shoes into my house. When I get home, my scrubs are taken off in the garage and placed directly into a sanitizing load of laundry immediately. I take a shower and then I can participate in family time. I wear a mask whenever I am out running errands, my son who has autism does the same, even with his sensory issues! I protect my family and my premature infants in every way I can.
Clean water saves lives. It's that simple.
Will you join me?
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