Hand Hygiene 101: Teaching Your Kids to Wash Their Hands
Back-to-School is Upon Us—And With That Comes Germs!
If your family is anything like mine, back-to-school season means an influx of new germs coming home with your child that can bring on a slew of new colds and illnesses for the entire family. With most schools now in session, now is the perfect time to teach your kids the importance of good hand hygiene to help prevent getting themselves—and others—sick.
Our hands are covered in germs that can be divided into two categories: Resident germs and transient germs. Resident germs can be thought of as “good” germs that live on our body and can help us stay healthy. Transient germs, or “bad” germs, however, are picked up by touching contaminated objects or surfaces. These germs can make you or others sick. Hand contact is one of the easiest ways for transient germs that cause infections or diseases to spread. This happens when you touch a contaminated object or surface then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth without washing your hands. Therefore, good hand hygiene is one of the best ways to keep your kids healthy.
Different Hand Hygiene Techniques
There are two acceptable methods of proper hand hygiene: Washing your hands with soap and water and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer (or, hand rubs) with at least 60% alcohol. Using soap and water is usually the best way to clean your hands and get rid of germs. However, if soap and water are not readily available, hand sanitizer is your next-best bet! (See my blog Hand Sanitizer vs. Soap and Water: Which is Better? to learn more.)
How to Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water
Follow these steps recommended by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to teach your child how to keep their hands clean:
Wet your hands with clean water—Any temperature—Use whatever your child finds most comfortable
Lather your hands with soap—Be sure your child applies soap to the entire surface of their hands including the back, between their fingers, and under their nails
Scrub your hands for 20 seconds—Have your child sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice through
Rinse your hands well with clean water
Dry your hands with a clean towel
How to Clean Your Hands With Hand Sanitizer
Follow these steps recommended by the CDC to teach your child how to keep their hands clean when soap and water are not available:
Apply the correct amount of product (as written on the label) to one hand
Cover all surfaces of hands thoroughly with product
Rub your hands and fingers together until they are dry
*Remember to always use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and to store out of reach of children.
*Always supervise young children to prevent any swallowing of hand sanitizer. If ingestion or suspected ingestion occurs, call Poison Control by dialing 1-800-222-1222 or dial 911 in an emergency.
Some Examples of When to Clean Your Hands
Before, during, or after preparing food or drinks
Before and after eating
After any contact with bodily fluids such as saliva, blood, urine/feces, or vomit
After using the restroom
After changing a diaper
After touching or handling animals or pets
Anytime your hands are visibly soiled or dirty
Key Points to Remember
Good hand hygiene is one of the easiest and most important ways we can teach our children to stay healthy. Always remember, handwashing with soap and water is the preferred method to keeping your hands free from germs that cause sickness or infection, but hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is acceptable whenever clean water and soap are not available. A good rule of thumb to teach your child regarding proper hand hygiene: When in doubt, wash your hands!
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