Did you know, according to
the Center for Disease Control (CDC), hand washing is the single most effective
way to prevent the spread of disease?
The CDC calls it a, “do-it-yourself vaccine.” Teaching
children appropriate hand hygiene habits can result in the removal of germs,
preventing the spread of germs, decrease of infections, absenteeism, and
associated costs.
Preschools are required to
teach, model and enforce proper handwashing techniques at all times of the year. Teaching from the earliest age with the goal
of hand washing being as routine as getting dressed in the morning is a win for
everyone.
Many experts agree that for
hand hygiene promotion to be effective in changing behaviors and cutting down
on the spread of illness, we need to create a family-centered approach.
Handwashing steps utilized in schools can be reinforced at home. With parents
and teachers on the same page and having consistent expectations, proper hand
washing will become the norm.
Here are some tips on
teaching when and how to wash hands:
When children are required to wash their hands in school:
·
Upon entering the classroom from the outside,
either home or playground
·
Before eating snack or lunch
·
Before any food preparation
·
After using the toilet
·
After blowing one’s nose or touching
one’s nose
·
After coughing or sneezing into one’s
hands
·
After touching garbage
It is equally important to know how to wash hands for optimum
results, think about these 5 simple steps:
- Wet: Place hands
under running water
- Lather: Apply soap to
hands
- Scrub: Hands must be
scrubbed for 20 seconds; rule of thumb is, count to 20 or sing or hum Happy Birthday twice
- Rinse: Hands must be
rinsed under clean, running water
- Dry: Hands must be
dried using a clean towel, or they can be air dried
Working on this at home
and at school will most definitely cut down on the spread of illness and give
children a healthy life long tool.
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