What Does Your Apperance Say About You?By: Jean Henry, RN, Risk Control Wellness Nurse

Your image can speak volumes about your work ethic and level of professionalism. According to one US study:

• 95% of employers said a jobseeker’s personal appearance affected their opinion of that applicants’ suitability for the job

• A whopping 91% said they believed dress and grooming reflected the applicant’s attitude towards the company

• 61% said personal appearance had an effect on subsequent promotions

Your appearance also sends signals to our residents and co-workers about who you are and what your values are. Those signals should fit with what’s appropriate and expected in your healthcare facility and department.

Dress code policy and procedures are often used in the healthcare setting to ensure residents can identify employees, and for health and safety reasons. Some items, such as a photo name badge, are mandated to be worn by all staff by the Department of Health. Other times, policies can be vague; so it remains your responsibility to send the right message.

Consider these common dress code line items for a healthcare facility worker:

Uniform SizeA typical policy will simply state that your uniform should be appropriate, neat, clean and wrinkle free. In addition to this, make sure your scrubs fit. Scrubs that are too large pose a safety threat as loose material can get caught in equipment, door handles and corners of hand rails, as well as be a grab source for combative residents or residents who might pull you down if they are falling.

Pants that drag on the floor get ripped and are filthy by the end of a shift. Imagine what those pants are picking up. The floor in a long term center facility is loaded with microscopic hitch hikers such as feces, urine, saliva, bacteria and dust mites to name a few, which you take from room to room as well as home. Scrubs that are too small also pose a problem. Tight clothing limits your ability to move freely. Exposed body parts invite unwanted advances from residents and visitors. You should be covered from just below the collar bone to just above the knee… give or take a few inches. Nobody should see your underwear. Regardless of your body type, too tight or too loose is not appropriate for a healthcare setting. Nail Length and Artificial NailsNo policy can give an exact length because there is no way to police it. Therefore, nails should be kept short, clean and filed or trimmed so no sharp edges are present. Nails pose a threat to fragile, resident’s skin as well as being a bacteria reservoir underneath the extended nail plate. If nail polish is allowed, the color should be non-offensive and without decorations. Artificial nails should never be permitted in the healthcare nursing and dining departments due to bacterial growth that develops between the real and artificial nail.

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For Nursing Home Facilities

December 2016

Safety EssentialsIN THIS ISSUE:

What Does Your Apperance Say About You? Pages 1 and 3

It’s Time For The Flu ShotPage 2

Holiday Decorating Safety TipsPage 2

Video LibraryPage 3

Risk Control Staff Contact Information Page 3

PELICAN Grant ProgramPage 3

Hand Hygiene ReminderPage 4

Page 2Page 2

It’s Time For The Flu Shot

By: Jean Henry, RN, Risk Control Wellness NurseInfluenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe symptoms. It is not “just a bad cold”. Symptoms include a high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue and harsh dry cough. Complications, especially for the elderly, very young, and those with chronic illness, include hospitalization for pneumonia and other infections, sometimes resulting in death.

The flu is spread mainly by droplets that are transmitted by coughing, sneezing and talking. Microscopic droplets enter the unsuspecting victim by inhaling the droplets into their lungs or by touching flu-contaminated surfaces with their hands and then touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Healthy adults can infect others beginning one day BEFORE symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. That means you can spread influenza to your residents and coworkers even if you are not sick or have symptoms.

The first and most important step in preventing flu is to get a flu vaccination. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months and older by the end of October, if possible. However, getting vaccinated later is still beneficial.

The flu shot does not cause flu illness. Common side effects are soreness redness, tenderness or swelling at the injection site. Low-grade fever, headache and muscle aches may also occur. Reasons why some people feel ill after the flu vaccine include:

• They are ill from other respiratory viruses, such as rhinoviruses, which are associated with the common cold. The flu vaccine only protects against influenza.

• They were exposed to influenza prior to influenza vaccination and before their body developed immune protection.

• They were exposed to a virus that is different from the viruses the vaccine is designed to protect against.

If you do get influenza even after you were vaccinated, signs and symptoms are generally reduced in severity, risk of complications are lessened and recovery time is faster.

Other preventive actions include frequent handwashing, cover your cough or sneeze, throw tissues away immediately, wipe work surfaces with approved products, and stay home if you are sick.

Influenza immunization not only helps prevent getting influenza, but reduces the spread of influenza to others. If you are in the health care field for your residents and patients, prove it by getting your flu shot this year.

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips By: Jean Henry, RN, Risk Control Wellness Nurse

Because residents and staff look forward to the activities and decorations of the holidays, review these reminders for a safe holiday season.

• Never use candles. Flameless candles are acceptable.• All decorations must be non-combustible or flame retardant. Check packaging for a non-flammable label.• Do not hang decorations from sprinkler heads, smoke detectors or pipes. Maintain a safe distance from the sprinkler heads (18 to

24 inches below them).• Do not hang decorations on other safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire pull stations or AED’s.• Do not block exits or block visibility to exits.• Use UL approved lighting for indoor and outdoor use. Check your lights for cracks, frayed cords or broken plugs.• Use indoor lighting in supervised areas. Turn off when not in use. LED lights burn cooler than conventional lights. Only use indoor

lights indoors.• Avoid twinkling lights which can be disorienting for those with dementia.• Secure Christmas trees and other large displays so they cannot be tipped over.• Do not use glass ornaments which can break or ornaments that resemble food.• Live pine trees have sharp needles as well as pose a fire risk. Consider artificial greens which are soft and flame retardant.• Door ornaments, such as wreaths and pictures may by hung on resident’s doors and in hallways, but cannot exceed 3 ½ inches in

depth.• Keep poinsettias in a safe area. Consider artificial poinsettias in resident care areas.• Cordon off floor displays so they are not trip hazards. Animated inflatable characters can be frightening to those with dementia.• Avoid using extension cords and power strips, and stringing cords across walking areas which creates a tripping hazard.

Rings and Jewelry Employees should wear as little jewelry as possible. Infection prevention and employee safety are the key reasons. Many employers won’t allow healthcare professionals to wear anything but a wedding band. Jewelry, especially rings and bracelets, can pick up bacteria and easily transfer it from resident to resident. Loose accessories, such as bracelets, anklets and necklaces may catch on equipment or impede your ability to perform a necessary task. Necklaces can be extremely dangerous when grabbed. Earrings are typically limited to one stud-type earring per ear. Loop and dangling earrings are not permitted for safety reasons. When it comes to jewelry, less is more.

Piercings and TattoosMany healthcare facilities discourage visible tattoos, facial piercings, and multiple ear piercings.In the healthcare setting, a typical policy will require visible tattoos covered, facial piercings removed, and ear piercings limited to one pair of stud-type earrings. The long term center resident may find some body art frightening or offensive. Dementia residents or those with poor vision may not recognize the tattoo as just that and try to grab, slap, or scrape it off. Extra piercings on the face may be mistaken for an insect or dirt.

FootwearShoes should be clean and in good repair. Common shoe rules include no open toes or heels, no crocs and soles must be a non-slip material. These rules are typically set by the facility liability insurer to prevent slips, trips and falls.

HairStandard healthcare policies include line items for hair and facial hair. Hair should be worn so it does not interfere with resident care, is not a safety hazard, or is not an infection control risk.Therefore, hair must be held away from the face in a ponytail or bun. Curlers, ribbons and clips are typically not allowed. Scarves, head coverings and hats are only allowed if it is related to religion or culture, or for medical reasons.

Dining staff must wear a hair restraint, such as a hair or beard net. All hair must be tucked in the covering. No bangs allowed.

While not a safety issue, many facilities restrict hair color to natural colors... no purple, orange, green, etc. Colors outside of the norm are a distraction to residents and sometimes, scary.

This is just a small sampling of what you might see in your facility dress code policy. For obvious reasons, different departments will have different safety requirements addressed. It sounds like a lot to remember when all you want to do is get up and go to work. You really only have two things to remember in regards to your work appearance: keep it simple and keep it professional.

Continued... What Does Your Apperance Say About You?

Risk Control Staff Contact Information

Keith Wentz, ARM-P, ARM, SPHR Risk Management and Underwriting Manager (800) 895-9039 x 3324 fax (717) 526-1020 mobile (717) 385-1201 kwentz@pacounties.org

Maureen McMahon CSP, ARM Risk Control Specialist (800) 895-9039 x 3306 mobile (412) 760-1421 mmcmahon@pacounties.org

Andrew Smith Risk Control Specialist (800) 895-9039 x 3369 mobile (717) 439-6076 asmith@pacounties.org

Dennis Cutler, CSHM Senior Risk Control Specialist(800) 895-9039 x 3210 mobile (412) 600-6189 dcutler@pacounties.org

Jeanie Henry, RN Risk Control Wellness Nurse (800) 895-9039 x 3382 mobile (717) 226-5384 fax (717)526-1020 jhenry@pacounties.org

Page 3

For more information, contact Keith Wentz by phone at (717) 736-4724 or kwentz@pacounties.org.

To help its insurance members provide a safe work environment and prevent costly accidents, CCAP Insurance Programs provides a FREE risk control video lending library. Members are encouraged to borrow these videos for viewing and for training purposes.

To request videos, contact Andrew Smith at (717) 736-4769 or asmith@pacounties.org.

PELICAN Grant Program

Holiday Decorating Safety Tips By: Jean Henry, RN, Risk Control Wellness Nurse

Because residents and staff look forward to the activities and decorations of the holidays, review these reminders for a safe holiday season.

• Never use candles. Flameless candles are acceptable.• All decorations must be non-combustible or flame retardant. Check packaging for a non-flammable label.• Do not hang decorations from sprinkler heads, smoke detectors or pipes. Maintain a safe distance from the sprinkler heads (18 to

24 inches below them).• Do not hang decorations on other safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, fire pull stations or AED’s.• Do not block exits or block visibility to exits.• Use UL approved lighting for indoor and outdoor use. Check your lights for cracks, frayed cords or broken plugs.• Use indoor lighting in supervised areas. Turn off when not in use. LED lights burn cooler than conventional lights. Only use indoor

lights indoors.• Avoid twinkling lights which can be disorienting for those with dementia.• Secure Christmas trees and other large displays so they cannot be tipped over.• Do not use glass ornaments which can break or ornaments that resemble food.• Live pine trees have sharp needles as well as pose a fire risk. Consider artificial greens which are soft and flame retardant.• Door ornaments, such as wreaths and pictures may by hung on resident’s doors and in hallways, but cannot exceed 3 ½ inches in

depth.• Keep poinsettias in a safe area. Consider artificial poinsettias in resident care areas.• Cordon off floor displays so they are not trip hazards. Animated inflatable characters can be frightening to those with dementia.• Avoid using extension cords and power strips, and stringing cords across walking areas which creates a tripping hazard.

Risk Management Video Library

The information provided in this publication is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with competent legal, financial, or other appropriate professionals. Statements of facts and opinions expressed in this publication, by authors other than Association staff and officers, are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent an opinion or philosophy of the officers, members and staff of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). No endorsement of advertised products or services is implied by CCAP unless those products or services are expressly endorsed, or are owned or managed by the Association programs, or our affiliates. Materials may not be reproduced or translated in part or in whole without express permission; please direct your requests to Andrew Smith.Note: As part of its copyright agreement the CCAP grants the author the right to place the final version of his/her manuscript on the author’s homepage, subject to CCAP standards, or in public digital repository, provided there is a link to the CCAP website.

PO Box 60769Harrisburg, PA 17106-0769

NEWSLETTER CONTACTJeanie Henry, RN

(800) 895-9039 x 3382Fax: (717) 526-1020

jhenry@pacounties.org

Hand Hygiene ReminderHand washing is the number one, most effective way to stop the spread of germs, bacteria and infection.

In order to be effective, it must be done correctly. Here’s a reminder according to the CDC:1. Wet hands with warm water. Hot water is too drying.2. Apply enough soap to create a lather.3. Apply friction for 15 – 20 seconds making sure to scrub the

entire hand surface, between fingers, wrists, cuticles and thumbs. Count for 15 – 20 seconds, or sing “Happy Birthday”.

4. Rinse your hands from the wrist down. Avoid shaking your hands after you have rinsed them.

5. Dry your hands.6. Turn off the water with the paper towel.7. Dispose of the paper towel.

Hand sanitizer is appropriate when hand washing is not available. If you are using hand sanitizer, apply enough to cover the entire hand surface and use friction until the hand sanitizer has evaporated. Don’t flap your hands to dry them.

Hand washing is best; but a combination of hand washing and hand sanitizer is an acceptable hand hygiene regime. Perform hand hygiene before and after resident care, before and after glove use, before and after eating and before starting and leaving work to help protect yourself and others from winter viruses such as influenza, cold viruses and norovirus, aka. the bug. If you have to ask, “should I wash my hands?”, the answer is always “yes”.