Hand hygiene is the most effective way of reducing the risk of infection in healthcare and the transmission of viruses and infection in the wider community. By attempting to set a new record for a hand-sanitising relay, GCU researchers, lecturers, student nurses and operating department practitioner students aim to raise awareness of hand hygiene as a means of preventing infections.
The World Record attempt was made on November 18, European Antibiotic Awareness Day, an annual European public-health initiative to raise awareness about the threat to public health of antibiotic resistance and the importance of prudent antibiotic use. The previous record was set by staff in a Hong Kong hospital.
GCU undertook the challenge with Professor Fiona McQueen, Scotland’s Chief Nursing Officer, and Glasgow City Council’s Liz Cameron in attendance.
The record attempt was inspired by an event coordinated by Glasgow City of Science in March 2014, which set a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous hand-hygiene lesson at multiple venues with 3,089 children from 36 Glasgow primary schools participating.
Links