Children’s school absenteeism reduced by 71%
The benefits of teaching effective hand washing to children were impressively demonstrated at an elementary school in Virginia. When researchers taught younger children how to wash their hands properly, then cultured them to see the resulting level of microbial contamination, the result was a huge reduction in absenteeism, according to a recent report on the Healio Infectious Disease News website.
Findings presented at IDWeek highlighted an experiment when 90 children in 5 classes at a public school were taught to wash their according to the method recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“The five-step process instructs people to wash, lather, scrub, rinse and dry their hands.”
They were then enthralled by being able to see the results obtained by checking the levels of microbial contamination. They had viewed their hands under a black light in order to see the areas that their hand washing efforts had missed, said the article.
“Just to have the kids feeling and seeing and smelling the results of their experiment really made an impact”, Kavita Imrit-Thomas, DO, associate medical director of LifeNet Health in Virginia Beach, one of the research team involved in the project, is quoted as saying.
When to wash hands
Students were also taught about appropriate times during which hand washing should take place, such as before eating, after going to the bathroom and after blowing their noses.
“According to the CDC, 160 million school days are lost each year due to infectious illnesses — absences that may be avoided by hand-washing. Done properly, the CDC says hand-washing can help reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses.”
2nd-grade hand hygiene experiment reduces school absenteeism by 71% »
Teach hand washing to children – both indoors and out!
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.
