Hand Washing for Health

Spring is supposed to be here, yet the weather doesn’t seem to be coinciding with our calendars. Colds and flu remain ever present as illustrated by what seems to be the constant sound of sniffling, nose blowing, or coughing. Even beyond immunizations, hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection, and it’s never too early to teach your toddler how to wash their hands properly. Young children have weaker immune systems, making them particularly susceptible to illness, and the simple act of washing hands can save a few trips to the doctor’s office. Hand washing is a simple yet effective way to help keep your kids healthy.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) cites the five following common scenarios for germs getting on hands:

1. Hands to food: germs can be passed from unwashed hands to food
2. Food to hands: raw, uncooked foods can pass germs to hands
3. Infants to hands to other children: if you don’t wash your hands after changing diapers or wiping the nose of your infant you can then pass germs to other children in the house
4. Nose, mouth or eyes to hands: sneezing or coughing into hands and rubbing eyes without washing hands afterward
5. Food to hands to infants: not washing hands after handling raw foods then tending to your infant can pass bacteria

Both parents and children should wash their hands after using the restroom, blowing your nose or coughing into hands, after playing outside or with pets, after coming in contact with someone who is ill, and after cleaning around the house.  Don’t forget one of the most important – always wash your hands before eating.

Proper hand washing includes four basic steps:

1. Apply a generous amount of soap under running water
2. Rub your hands together for 15-20 seconds. Hint: sing the “Alphabet Song″ or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star″ twice
3. Rinse your hands well
4. Dry your hands with a clean towel, use the towel to turn off the faucet

Do infants need to wash their hands? The answer is yes, with your help of course. Be sure to wash your infant’s hands from wrist to fingertips, dry well, and then be sure to wash your own hands. For more great tips and fun activities to help kids remember to wash their hands, visit Earth’s Kids.