S.I.C.K. Team Tells Adults to "Clean Their Hands" in New Role-Reversal Movie
Move
over Brad and Angelina – today’s newest celebrities
were walking the red carpet at a Thunder Bay Regional Health
Sciences Centre movie premiere.
The movie short features the S.I.C.K. Team (Special Infection
Control Kids Team), a group of children ages six to eight
who promote better hand hygiene at the Health Sciences Centre.
Members of the S.I.C.K. Team, dressed in full lab coats and
ID badges, follow staff and visitors around the Health Science
Centre giving rewards to those who clean their hands properly
– and punishments to those who don’t.
“The movie is meant to be a fun reminder for staff
and visitors alike that good hand hygiene is crucial to reducing
the spread of infection,” said Hillary McIver, Manager
of Infection Control. “All healthcare facilities run
the risk of spreading infection. But we can cut our risk in
half simply by washing our hands and using hand sanitizer.”
Trina Diner, Manager of Communication and Engagement said
that they came up with the idea of using child actors in the
film because, simply, they are the “experts”.
“We tell our children endlessly ‘wash your hands,
wash your hands’ and yet we forget to do it ourselves,”
Diner said. “It’s a great way to involve our staff
in building awareness.”
“It was fun working with the kids, the staff was happy
to greet them,” said Steve Coghill, Senior Graphic Designer
at the department and the film’s Editor. He added that
staff members were very welcoming to the actors, taking a
few minutes out of their day to talk about hand hygiene.
Hand sanitizers are now everywhere throughout the Health
Sciences Centre. In order to reduce infections, everyone –
staff and visitors alike – need to clean their hands
before entering and after leaving a patient room. It is for
their own safety as much as the patient’s, though for
obvious reasons the patient is most vulnerable to viral and
bacterial infections.
“Sometimes
patients are afraid to ask their caregivers (doctors, nurses,
etc.) if they’ve cleaned their hands,” said McIver.
“Every patient has the right to ask all people entering
their room if they’ve cleaned their hands. “There’s
nothing impolite about wanting to stop the spread of infection
– especially if it’s your own body at risk,”
she said.
Cathy Covino, Senior Director, Quality and Risk Management,
said that infection control is fundamental to providing the
best healthcare in the world. “Everyone wants to have
safe quality healthcare,” Covino said. “We all
have a part in making that happen! It may be ensuring we’ve
cleaned our hands or asking visitors to clean theirs.”
“I think the last thing anyone wants to do is pass along
germs to our patients or loved ones that may contribute to
their illness, especially if it could have been prevented
by simply cleaning our hands,” she said.
The Communications and Engagement Department put out a casting
call in July to build the S.I.C.K. Team. Most of these young
actors are the sons and daughters of staff at the Health Sciences
Centre. All 20 who answered the call are featured in the film
in some way.
“Sometimes
patients are afraid to ask their caregivers (doctors, nurses,
etc.) if they’ve cleaned their hands,” said McIver.
“Every patient has the right to ask all people entering
their room if they’ve cleaned their hands. “There’s
nothing impolite about wanting to stop the spread of infection
– especially if it’s your own body at risk,”
she said.
