You or your loved one are on Additional Precautions because you may have an infection or be carrying a germ that others can get. The type of additional precautions (often called isolation), that you are on, is based on how the germ you have is spread to others. There are 3 types of Additional Precautions in use at Hamilton Health Sciences:
Contact Precautions – the germ is spread by hands or any item in which you have had contact.
Droplet/Contact Precautions – the germ is spread both by items you have touched and by large droplets from coughing and sneezing.
Airborne Precautions – the germ is spread by tiny droplets in the air.
If you are on Additional Precautions:
- Your health care provider will:
- Talk with you about why you are in isolation.
- Provide you with written information about why you are in isolation.
- To go anywhere outside of your room, please check with your nurse healthcare provider
- You can leave your room for therapy and exercise such as walking around the unit.
- You can leave your room for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, or unit worship service.
- Do not visit another patient.
- Do not use the kitchen on the unit or ward.
The information below provides basic general information only and is to be used as a quick guide, not as a complete resource on the subject. If you have further questions ask your health care provider.
Instructions for Contact Precautions |
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Contact precaution overviewThe germ is spread by hands or any item in which you have had contact. What do patients need to know?Clean your hands with soap and water, or with hand sanitizer for at least 15 seconds, each time you enter or leave your room. Wear clean clothing when leaving your room. What do Visitors need to know before entering the room?Step 1: Perform hand hygiene What do Visitors need to know before exiting the room?Step 1: remove gloves |
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Instructions for Droplet/Contact Precautions |
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Droplet/Contact precaution overviewThe germ is spread both by items you have touched and by large droplets from coughing and sneezing. What do patients need to know?Clean your hands with soap and water, or with hand sanitizer for at least 15 seconds, each time you enter or leave your room. Wear clean clothing when leaving your room. Wear a mask when leaving your room. What do Visitors need to know before entering the room?Step 1: Perform hand hygiene Step 2: Put on gown Step 3: Put on mask and eye protection Step 4: Put on gloves What do Visitors need to know before exiting the room?Step 1: remove gloves Step 2: remove gown Step 3: perform hand hygiene Step 4. remove eye protection Step 5. Remove |
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Instructions for Airborne Precautions |
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Airborne precaution overviewThe germ is spread by tiny droplets in the air. What do patients need to know?Clean your hands with soap and water, or with hand sanitizer for at least 15 seconds, each time you enter or leave your room. Wear a mask when leaving your room. Make sure the door to your room stays shut. What do Visitors need to know before entering the room?Step 1: Perform hand hygiene Step 2: Put on gown Step 3: Put on N95 Step 4: Put on gloves What do Visitors need to know before exiting the room?Step 1: remove gloves Step 2: remove gown Step 3: perform hand hygiene |
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