Healthy Hands are essential to EMS professionals. Without them you cannot assess your patient, provide interventions, or document the encounter. June 8-12 is Healthy Hands Week. Sponsored by the American Society of Hand Therapists the purpose of Healthy Hands Week is to encourage hand health and hand injury prevention.
These are Everyday EMS Tips for hand health:
- Use appropriate PPE for all rescue incidents and patient encounters
- Wash your hands before and after patient contact
- Apply moisturizing lotion to keep your skin in good condition
- Always use hand safety devices with machines and power tools
- Clean and dress wounds, allow them to heal by minimizing use and protecting, and monitoring for signs of infection
- Recognize and prevent hand strain injuries from using computers and smartphones
Learn more about Hand Safety from the American Society of Hand Therapists.
