Pass me the soap!

Singapore, 27 April - Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) is launching the TTSH CSI: Wash & Win Promotion today. The hand washing drive aimed at educating the public on proper hand hygiene is part of TTSH’s CSI (Clean, Safe, Infection-free) campaign.

Infections are easily spread through handshakes, touching surfaces such as tabletops and even sharing of personal belongings. How you wash your hands can help stop the spread of infections. The TTSH CSI campaign aims to prevent the ongoing transmission of the germs that cause influenza, food poisoning, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) and other serious illnesses.

The solution? Hand washing with soap. It is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent illnesses.

“Hand washing for good hygiene is always promoted by all health promotion boards over the world. We are taking another step further to teach people how to wash properly,” said Professor Chng Hiok Hee, who is leading TTSH’s public education efforts.

“Good hand hygiene is crucial in stemming the spread of infections and there is no reason why the public should not learn the 7-steps to hand washing practised by medical professionals.

“As much measures as the hospital may adopt, our efforts will not bear fruit if it does not have everyone’s cooperation.

“If we are very careful in the hospital, but have somebody who comes in from the outside who is not careful, everything is undone,” she said.

TTSH has already trained and certified 5,100 staff and volunteers on hand hygiene. To ensure people practise what they learn, hand hygiene helpers have been deployed around the hospital to teach and remind them.

Now, TTSH is going a step further by involving the public in this drive because they are very important partners in healthcare. The hospital’s aim is to encourage people to change their lifestyles and make handwashing second nature. The TTSH CSI Wash & Win Promotion is a concerted effort to increase community awareness of proper hand hygiene, and stop the spread of germs that cause serious illnesses.

This is the first time a public hospital has made such a bold move to spread the message by rewarding the public, staff and patients the chance to win a brand new Subaru Impreza, sponsored by Subaru Motor Image as well as nine other goodies ranging from a plasma TV, Nintendo Wii to shopping vouchers, if they are able to demonstrate the 7-steps correctly. The car will be placed in the hospital throughout the campaign period of two months.

TTSH has also developed a series of music videos featuring an all-star cast. These videos are fun and educational, and teach the proper 7-step handwashing technique. They can be found on the TTSH CSI Campaign website http://www.ttsh.com.sg/csi and YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/csihandwashing.

TTSH will be holding handwashing demonstrations at the Atrium from 27 April to 22 May, Mondays to Fridays at 12pm. These demonstrations are for outpatients and visitors of inpatients. Handwashing demonstrations for the public will be held at United Square from 1 June to 26 June, Mondays to Fridays at 12pm, to push out the message as well. A coupon for the lucky draw will be given to participants who successfully follow the 7-steps. Inpatients and their visitors spotted washing their hands with the 7-step handwashing technique in the wards by the hand hygiene patrol will also be given coupons.

Ms Olivia Branson, Director, Corporate Communications noted, “More visitors are already cleaning their hands with the alcohol rubs or hand wash placed throughout the hospital after posters on hand washing were put up last month.”

Prof Chng remarked, ”An infection can be picked up anywhere in the community. For example, SARS and diseases such as hand, foot and mouth disease can be passed through hand contact.”

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We would like to invite you and your photographer/camera crew to cover this event. The event will be held at the Main Entrance and Atrium of Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Monday, 27 April at 9.00am, followed by a breakfast reception.

Programme details:

Issued by the Corporate Communications Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital. For more information or to request for interviews, please call Juliet Tseng at 6357 8050 / Mobile: 9722 5431 / E-mail: Juliet_Tseng@ttsh.com.sg OR Farren Fernandez at 6357 8415 / Mobile: 9728 0247 / E-mail: Farren_Fernandez@ttsh.com.sg

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