Durham Mental Health Services’ Joint Health and Safety Committee has been active in December promoting the importance of regular hand hygiene. Already 14 DMHS program locations have had spot checks, following a protocol recommended by the Region of Durham Health Department.

 Staff coat their hands in “Germ Glow,” an invisible lotion that shows up under black light. They then wash their hands and inspect them under black light. The results visibly demonstrate the importance of thorough hand washing, as staff see the residue left on their hands after ineffective washing.

“As we’re going into flu season, we realize the importance of hand hygiene in order to keep everyone as healthy as they can be,” says DMHS program coordinator Mark Bouwmeester who sits on the DMHS Health and Safety Committee and who organized the handwashing blitz. “We appreciate all the volunteers who did the spot checks and also the commitment of our staff to maintain good hand hygiene.”