Why basic human hygiene is such an important lesson
Good basic hygiene practices are “second only to vaccination” – and teaching about them should be a real priority according to a recent article on the Lancaster Online website.
The article by Dr Pia Fenimore offers some vital tips that children of all ages can master.
Not surprisingly, hand washing comes at the top of a six point list called “6 healthy ways to kick off the upcoming school year”.
How hand washing should be undertaken
Dr Fenimore states that children’s hand washing should occur at the very least before eating and after going to the toilet. More frequent washing would help further on the grounds that kids touch their eyes and mouth so frequently.
For hand hygiene measure to work effectively she argues, the quality of the hand wash is as important as the frequency of it. She presents an excellent idea to enable a young child to imagine actual germs on their hands by using the following technique:-
- Wet a child’s hands with a little water
- Apply a teaspoon full of coloured glitter to their hands
- Encourage them to rub the glitter all over their hands to represent the germs they pick up on a day to day basis
- Then get them to wash thoroughly until all the glitter is gone – an excellent idea!
Dr Fenimore wrote
“A quick rinse will not do — a light scrub for at least 30 seconds is necessary for effective hand-washing. Soap and water have been shown to prevent germ spread better than hand sanitizer…”
6 healthy ways to kick off the upcoming school year »
Teach hand washing to children – with a portable unit that goes anywhere they do!
Hand washing is the most important lesson a child can learn and acquiring it is an essential lifelong skill. A Kiddiwash Xtra or KiddiSynk portable hand washing sink can be positioned right next to the sand pit – helping to ensure that children dramatically reduce the risk of infection as they finish play.
The Kiddiwash range of warm water hand wash units are perfect for smaller hands – and are ideal where a portable solution is required.
Whether you require a larger wheeled unit such as the KiddiSynk, or the ultra portable Kiddiwash Xtra, you can ensure that all children in your care are able to wash their hands whether inside or out.
