Do you know that there is a Global Hand washing Day? This year it takes place on October 15, and coincidentally, flu season is almost upon us. Regardless of whether you and your family decide to receive the flu shot, hand washing is an essential tool to fight against disease. Now, I could get into why you should get the flu shot, and the misconceptions about the common attitude of "i got the flu shot,but still got sick", but I won't. Getting or not getting the flu shot is a personal choice, and therefore, i would rather focus on preventing the spread of germs, more specifically viruses. A little info, there are two different types of germs, bacteria and viruses, most people are scared of bacteria, but in fact, it is viruses that cause way more illnesses and are much easier to spread than bacteria. Germs can live ANYWHERE, hard surfaces, hands, toys, shopping carts and are spread easily when when we touch something that is contaminated, are sneezed or coughed on or within spreadable reach. Kids, who touch their faces, touch everything and are around others who don't know how to cover their cough yet are especially at risk. I once sat at an Infection Control seminar and was made aware that the majority of us could not sit through an hour without touching our faces, very eye opening. Once we touch our faces, we are allowing these germs to enter our bodies through our eyes, nose, or mouth, so hand washing is essential. And yes, I am THAT mom who wipes down tables, shopping carts,etc before we eat or I dare put my child into the shopping cart, with a regular wipe, not antibacterial (I'll explain later on), but only because I work in a hospital and have seen and heard some very disgusting and eye widening things, which I will spare you. My personal belief is that yes, children will get sick, and yes it builds their immunity, but unfortunately, we do not choose what they pick up (keep in mind,there are good and bad germs). Hand washing or using hand sanitizers are a great thing, and effective only if you know how to do it properly, which is what this blog entry is all about.
Firstly, do you know how to use a hand sanitizer? Most people do not, as I was proven once again earlier today at a play date. Soap and water is best, but it is not always convenient, hence the invention of the hand sanitizer, but keep in mind that most are alcohol based, so keep it out of your young child's reach in case of swallowing, and since it does have alcohol, don't use it all the time,as it kills both good and bad bacteria. In addition, if your hands are visibly soiled or very dirty, soap and water is best. To use it properly, you must use enough to be able to work into your hands for 15 seconds, so LOTS and LOTS. Rub it in as if you are washing your hands (described later) because just rubbing your hands together is not effective. And an extra tip, once you apply the sanitizer in your palm, put it away, as it is useless to clean your hands and then touch the dirty bottle afterwards in order to put it away.
A question I get asked a lot is regular soap or antibacterial?, and my answer is always soap! Too much antibacterial products are out there and most people think well it's antibacterial so it is better, on the contrary, it is not necessary, and using such products actually increases antibiotic resistance and creates super bugs.
Now to wash your hands, i know, finally!lol. here a few steps to follow:
1- Wet your hands under running water
2- Scrub your hands well with soap. Wash your palms, between fingers, backs of hands, thumbs, wrists, fingertips, and nails. Do this for 20 seconds, or to teach your young ones, have them sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", a big hit with my son :)
3- Rinse your hands under running water
4- Dry Hands. In public restrooms, use paper towels and then turn off the taps with this paper towel so as not to contaminate your hands again, and then grab a clean paper towel to open the bathroom door...ummm, there are many people who do not even wash their hands after using the toilet. I would then try to throw out that now dirty towel by throwing it into the garbage which is usually by the door anyways as I hold the door open with my back, looks weird, but it works.
If at home and using a cloth towel, I encourage you to change the towel everyday.
I also encourage hand washing your baby's hands, as we all know how dirty they can get, plus they are always putting things in their mouths and crawling everywhere. And I am by no means suggesting you follow your little crawler around with wipes, but perhaps before eating and after play dates. You can use regular disposable wipes or if at home,use warm wet cloths, but use three different towels/cloth wipes, one for the soap and water, another for rinsing, and another for drying. Hand wash throughout the day, and I am sure I do not need to mention when to do so, but here are a few pointers regarding when, that may not have occurred to some. I will usually clean my hands after changing my child's diaper, but have been know to forget to clean his, as many with boys will tell you, they also get right in there when the diaper is off. If your child goes to school or daycare, have them wash their hands when they arrive home, also, after a play date or being at a playground. Lastly, before and after visiting someone who is sick, you do not want to introduce new germs to someone who is not at optimum health, nor do you want to get sick either. And with that being said, I know a lot of people cannot help but bring their child to the hospital to visit a loved one, but please, PLEASE, do not let your baby crawl on the floor there, don't even bring their walker so they can practice walking as I have heard some do, in fact, clean their shoes once you leave the hospital, I do not even enter my own house with my work shoes. I can tell you several disgusting things that I have seen and heard touch the hospital floor and perhaps have not had the chance to be cleaned properly yet.
Fun ways to teach your child about hand washing will of course depend on your child's age and learning style. My son personally loves anything with a song, and is more of a hands on learner, he is two by the way. One idea I saw on the Internet was putting something like brown sugar on your child's hands to represent germs, discuss it, and show them how to wash these germs away. A good sturdy step stool for your child is also a good idea, as they feel like a big person when using it, plus their own fun soap helps. Other ideas are books about hand washing, other songs besides the twinkle,twinkle song, playing tag as a germ, watching a cartoon video, colouring pages, etc. Here are some links to some of these ideas. Happy Hand washing!
http://www.kidscoop.com/hand_washing/
http://www.carex.co.uk/activities-for-children/hand-washing-games
http://www.twigglemagazine.com/September-activities/Germs-handwashing-preschool-lesson.html
Or for all of you IPad/IPhone users, you can get the "I hate washing My Hands" app for free, it is very cute,we have it.
Firstly, do you know how to use a hand sanitizer? Most people do not, as I was proven once again earlier today at a play date. Soap and water is best, but it is not always convenient, hence the invention of the hand sanitizer, but keep in mind that most are alcohol based, so keep it out of your young child's reach in case of swallowing, and since it does have alcohol, don't use it all the time,as it kills both good and bad bacteria. In addition, if your hands are visibly soiled or very dirty, soap and water is best. To use it properly, you must use enough to be able to work into your hands for 15 seconds, so LOTS and LOTS. Rub it in as if you are washing your hands (described later) because just rubbing your hands together is not effective. And an extra tip, once you apply the sanitizer in your palm, put it away, as it is useless to clean your hands and then touch the dirty bottle afterwards in order to put it away.
A question I get asked a lot is regular soap or antibacterial?, and my answer is always soap! Too much antibacterial products are out there and most people think well it's antibacterial so it is better, on the contrary, it is not necessary, and using such products actually increases antibiotic resistance and creates super bugs.
Now to wash your hands, i know, finally!lol. here a few steps to follow:
1- Wet your hands under running water
2- Scrub your hands well with soap. Wash your palms, between fingers, backs of hands, thumbs, wrists, fingertips, and nails. Do this for 20 seconds, or to teach your young ones, have them sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", a big hit with my son :)
3- Rinse your hands under running water
4- Dry Hands. In public restrooms, use paper towels and then turn off the taps with this paper towel so as not to contaminate your hands again, and then grab a clean paper towel to open the bathroom door...ummm, there are many people who do not even wash their hands after using the toilet. I would then try to throw out that now dirty towel by throwing it into the garbage which is usually by the door anyways as I hold the door open with my back, looks weird, but it works.
If at home and using a cloth towel, I encourage you to change the towel everyday.
I also encourage hand washing your baby's hands, as we all know how dirty they can get, plus they are always putting things in their mouths and crawling everywhere. And I am by no means suggesting you follow your little crawler around with wipes, but perhaps before eating and after play dates. You can use regular disposable wipes or if at home,use warm wet cloths, but use three different towels/cloth wipes, one for the soap and water, another for rinsing, and another for drying. Hand wash throughout the day, and I am sure I do not need to mention when to do so, but here are a few pointers regarding when, that may not have occurred to some. I will usually clean my hands after changing my child's diaper, but have been know to forget to clean his, as many with boys will tell you, they also get right in there when the diaper is off. If your child goes to school or daycare, have them wash their hands when they arrive home, also, after a play date or being at a playground. Lastly, before and after visiting someone who is sick, you do not want to introduce new germs to someone who is not at optimum health, nor do you want to get sick either. And with that being said, I know a lot of people cannot help but bring their child to the hospital to visit a loved one, but please, PLEASE, do not let your baby crawl on the floor there, don't even bring their walker so they can practice walking as I have heard some do, in fact, clean their shoes once you leave the hospital, I do not even enter my own house with my work shoes. I can tell you several disgusting things that I have seen and heard touch the hospital floor and perhaps have not had the chance to be cleaned properly yet.
Fun ways to teach your child about hand washing will of course depend on your child's age and learning style. My son personally loves anything with a song, and is more of a hands on learner, he is two by the way. One idea I saw on the Internet was putting something like brown sugar on your child's hands to represent germs, discuss it, and show them how to wash these germs away. A good sturdy step stool for your child is also a good idea, as they feel like a big person when using it, plus their own fun soap helps. Other ideas are books about hand washing, other songs besides the twinkle,twinkle song, playing tag as a germ, watching a cartoon video, colouring pages, etc. Here are some links to some of these ideas. Happy Hand washing!
http://www.kidscoop.com/hand_washing/
http://www.carex.co.uk/activities-for-children/hand-washing-games
http://www.twigglemagazine.com/September-activities/Germs-handwashing-preschool-lesson.html
Or for all of you IPad/IPhone users, you can get the "I hate washing My Hands" app for free, it is very cute,we have it.
