Apparatus and methods for monitoring compliance with recommended hand-washing practices

A hand-washing compliance monitoring unit, comprising:

• an event detector that detects the occurrence of an event that is specified in a hand-washing rule, wherein the event involves a person;
• a hand-washing detector that detects when the person washes his or her hands;
• and
• a control unit in electronic communication with the event detector and with the hand-washing detector, wherein the control unit determines whether the person complies with the hand-washing rule, triggers a reminder alarm if the person does not comply with the hand-washing rule, and updates compliance data that is related to compliance with the hand-washing rule.

A hand-washing compliance monitoring unit, comprising:

• means for detecting the occurrence of an event specified in a hand-washing rule, wherein the event involves a person;
• means for determining whether the person complies with the hand-washing rule;
• means for triggering a reminder alarm if the person does not comply with the hand-washing rule;
• and
• means for updating compliance data that is related to compliance with the hand-washing rule.