Clean Hands
A Guide to Teaching the Perfect Hand Washing Technique
It is a fact that the ten things most harmful to hygiene and infection control are the ten fingers of your hands. It is clinically proven that hands not cleaned properly are a significant risk to cleanliness and therefore an important part of personal hygiene. The risks are ten-fold when it comes to a child's hands! The path to good personal hygiene starts with a simple yet effective hand washing technique that your child can grasp easily.
It is critical that a child is given the proper instruction when washing their hands at an early stage so that the act comes naturally to them in later years.
Hand Washing in the Home
As a parent, it is your job to make sure your child is well versed in the activity of washing their hands regularly. This includes washing after they use the toilet, after playing outside, being in contact animals and before every mealtime. Here are some simple steps you can take to encourage your child to wash their hands on their own initiative.
- You should make sure that your child has easy access to a sink in the home. If they are too small to reach the sink on their own, then you should provide a small stepping stool which will give them the independence to wash their hands on their own.
- You should provide some fun-coloured or nice smelling soap/detergent that your child will be excited to use.
Make sure your child knows which faucets are which and how many times they should be turned. Germs thrive at body temperature and colder temperatures are not as effective as warm temperatures. Show your child that the water needs to be warm in order for the task to be done properly. The safety concern is if they turn the hot water faucet too much, they might scald themselves, so it is very important that this part if the technique is explained and made clear to the child.
- Allow them to measure the amount of time needed to wash their hands in an enjoyable way. The Alphabet song is just long enough to provide sufficient time to get the job done. So, instead of setting a time-frame that your child won't understand, get them to sing their ABC's and explain that when the song is finished they have washed their hands properly.
- Provide clean and dry towels close to the sink for your child to dry their hands with. Damp cloth is a breeding ground for germs, especially in bathrooms, so make sure your child knows to hang the towel back neatly after they are finished.
Hand Washing in Schools
It is easy for a child to break routine once they leave home and enter a new environment. The hand hygiene rule should continue to be actively encouraged in the classroom also. Schools should supply their toilets with these basic hand washing tools:
- Adequate sink heights or stepping stools if required.
- Soap or detergent dispenser at a reachable place near the sink.
- Paper towels, a clean towel or a hand drier.
- Optional: alcohol hand gel
Prompting signs with pictures and encouraging messages around the toilet will help encourage children to wash their hands. For example, a child may be in a rush to go back outside to play but a strategically placed sign reading; "Have you washed your hands yet??" on the door may make them remember!
Hand Washing Technique
Simply running your hands under cold water will not be sufficient enough to get the job done. A good hand washing technique does not need to last longer than thirty seconds, nor does it need to be up to surgical standards. Follow these four simple steps to ensure proper hand hygiene in your household or school:
- Remove rings and jewellery as they harbour dirt and skin microorganisms.
- Wet hands and wrists with warm water and then apply soap from a dispenser.
- If possible, avoid using bar soap to avoid cross contamination.
- Hold hands below elbow level to prevent water from running up arms and back down, thus contaminating clean areas.
This technique is important for all members of the family and schools to adapt. From cooking to cleaning with potentially harmful chemicals, our hands pick up so many hidden dangers that can be neutralized through the simple act of hand washing. Follow these steps in the hand hygiene process to ensure that 'happy germs' have no future in your or your child's hands.
This article is proudly sponsored by Neylon Maintenance Services, your 'one stop' shop for all facility needs. Find out more about Neylon here.
