Have you been in a hospital or nursing home lately? Did you take advantage of the sanitizing gel near the doors? Northern Cochise Community Hospital (NCCH, Inc.) in Willcox placed the hand sanitizing stations at the entrances to the hospital during the flu season and encouraged visitors and out-patients to clean their hands with the alcohol gel before coming into the hospital and also before leaving.

CEO Chris Cronberg said the Office of the State Fire Marshall has informed the hospital it was a violation of the fire code to have the sanitizing stations at the door. Mr. Cronberg explained the purpose of the sanitizing stations is to reduce the spread of flu among hospital and nursing patients and that the hospital has a responsibility to provide health education to the community. Futhermore, having the stations at the hospital is an excellent way to remind everyone coming into a hospital or nursing home of the importance of washing their hands to stop the spread of germs.

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control recommends using alcohol-based cleaners for washing hands. However, the National Fire Protection Association claims these cleaners are a fire hazard and should not be placed at exit doors. The hospital can continue to use the alcohol products in patient care areas.

This is an example of two groups not working together. In a recent study of 798 facilities, not one reported a fire from the use of alcohol-based sanitizers. NCCH, Inc. is continuing to stress to visitors to clean their hands before coming into the facility and as they leave or as soon after as possible.

Northern Cochise Community Hospital is not the only facility that had adopted a process for visitors to use the sanitizing gels.

It was not the intention of the hospital to put patients or visitors in harm’s way by using the gels; we certainly thought we were doing the right thing by controlling the spread of the flu to our patients and believe it was a very effective program.

Ellen Clark, Community Relations Director NCCH, Inc.