Protect yourself and your family from infectious disease

Your best safety measure to prevent transmission of many types of disease is to thoroughly wash your hands.
Washing your hands is effective because it will dilute and flush away germs and contaminated material.

HOW TO WASH HANDS

Always use soap and warm running water.
Always vigorously scrub your hands as you wash them . . . try to allow around ten seconds or more.
Always wash your hands completely including the backs of your hands, your wrists, under fingernails and between     fingers.
Always thoroughly rinse your hands . . . allow around ten seconds or more.
Always turn the tap off by using of a single-use towel, being sure to properly discard the towel when you're     finished..

Teach your children to always wash their hands in the correct manner. Some supervision may be necessary until such time as your children understand the importance of washing their hands and it becomes an established good habit.
Always be on guard against cracked skin developing, any breaks in the skin have the potential to allow unwanted germs or bacteria to enter your body. Keep a good quality skin lotion available and try use it when needed.
Always use a good pair of rubber gloves to protect the hands whenever you are using detergents, bleaches, cleaning solutions or laundry powder.

Soap and Towels.

Although you may be using soap when you wash your hands, it does not guarantee that you and your family are protected from bacteria and germs. Organisms and bacteria can easily grow on wet soap cakes left wet on the vanity or bath. It is not necessary to discard the soap. Try to keep the soap off the basin so that it can completely dry. An alternative is to use a liquid soap.

Because a bathroom towels can also be a transmitter of germ or bacteria it is best to use, where possible, disposable towels or electric hand dryers. As most families use cloth towels, it is important to regularly wash them and hang them away from other towels.

When to wash your own hands.
Before you handle food.
Before you eat.
After cleaning up vomit or faeces.
After wiping either yours or your childs nose.
After changing a baby's nappy.
After using to the toilet.

 When to wash your children’s hands.
Before your child eats.
After changing their nappy . . . a childs hands can easily become contaminated with germs whilst they are on the change mat.
After your child uses the toilet.
After playing outside.
After touching nasal secretions.
After touching animals or the family pets.

What to do if there is no tap available..
When there is no sink or tap available to wash your hands use an alcohol-based wipe or lotion to wipe the children’s and your own hands.
Children learn by watching adults . . . they quite often copy what they see an adult doing.

When children have not washed their hands or are not washing them correctly:
• Ask them to go and wash their hands.
• Show them the correct way to wash their hands.
• Remind them that washing their hands helps to stop the spread of bacteria and germs that cause sickness and disease.
• Establish a routine so that hand washing becomes second nature.

IMMUNISATION

WHAT IS IMMUNISATION?

Immunisation provides protection against bacteria and viruses, your body produces antibodies to combat the infecting organism. In Australia in recent years there have been measles and whooping cough epidemics. This has happened because of incomplete immunisation against these diseases.

As well as protecting yourself, immunisation also protects our community by preventing one person transmitting the disease to another. After a vaccine is swallowed or injected your body starts developing it's immune response in the same way it would if you contracted the disease, but without the person getting infected with the disease.

Circulating in your blood stream are certain proteins called antibodies, your body uses these to fight against disease whenever it appears.
For both adults and children it is very important to protect against commonly occurring infections. Without immunisation many infections can easily cause
severe illness and even death.

BENEFITS OF IMMUNISATION?

Because of routine childhood immunisation measles is now a very uncommon disease in Australia, the threat of whooping cough has also been greatly reduced and polio, tetanus and diphtheria virtually eliminated. Although Polio remains common in many developing countries and outbreaks still occur the last case of poliomyelitis (polio) in Australia was reported in 1986.
The number of reported cases of disease relating to Hib have fallen by over 90 per cent since the introduction of Haemophilus lnfluenzae type b (Hib) vaccines in 1992.

SIDE EFFECTS OF IMMUNISATION?

Although some side effects have been reported for all vaccines, modern vaccines are considered extremely effective and safe to use. Mild reactions are often associated with some types vaccines and should be expected, these may include a rash or mild fever, pain and redness at the injection site. These symptoms can be distressing at the time, however the benefits of immunisation giving protection from the disease far outweigh any minor side effects. Paracetamol is often prescribed with some vaccines to minimise the symptoms. Although vaccines rarely cause serious side effects some people will experience an allergic reaction to a component of the vaccine.

WHAT IS THE AUSTRALIAN STANDARD PROTOCOL?

In most cases vaccinations are given by injection into the leg or upper arm, however some vaccines are given by mouth. In Australia, the Childhood Immunisation Program includes measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, poliomyelitis (polio), tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus lnfluenzae type b (HIB) and hepatitis B. A survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics conducted in 1989-90 found that only 53% per cent of children aged six years or under were fully immunised against polio,whooping cough, measles and mumps, diphtheria and tetanus.

WHEN SHOULD YOU DELAY IMMUNISATION?

If a child is sick with a high temperature immunisation should he postponed until the child has fully recovered. A child who is on antibiotics and obviously recovering from an illness or a child who has a runny nose, but is not ill, can still be immunised.
Children who have experienced a serious allergic reaction together with breathing difficulty resulting from an earlier dose of a vaccine should not be given the same vaccine again, this is something that you need to discuss with your family doctor or medical centre.

A child should still be immunised even if he or she . . .


• Has previously been in contact with an infectious disease.
• Has had a recent medical procedure or surgery.
• Was a premature baby.
• Was jaundiced after birth.
• Has had measles, rubella, whooping cough, Hib infection or mumps.
• Has a family history of reactions following immunisation
• Has neurological conditions such as Downs Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy.
• Has a runny nose.
• Is over the age recommended in the standard vaccination schedule.
• Suffers from hay fever, asthma, eczema, or simple allergies.
• Has a family history of convulsions.
• Is taking locally acting steroids or being treated with antibiotics.
• Has a mother who is pregnant at the time.

Where can you get immunised?
In New South Wales immunisation is provided through your General Practitioner. For further information contact the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register 1800 653 809, your local doctor or the Child Health Clinic in your area.