For Educators: Hand Washing Toolkit

Start Spreading the Word... Not the Germs!

“Handwashing is the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading the illness to others.” - Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

In fact, one of the most common ways people catch illnesses such as colds and the flu is by coming into contact with another person’s infected cough or sneeze. The tiny microscopic droplets from a cough or sneeze can come into contact with other people’s mouths, noses, and eyes, introducing their bodies to the germ. Sometimes germs can be spread when a person touches his/her own eyes, nose, or mouth after touching something contaminated by the germ, such as a doorknob, and by not washing their hands first.

Fight germs

Properly washing your hands with soap and warm water can remove a majority of the harmful germs that can make you sick.

Hand washing is especially important…

Before you:

  • Eat
  • Prepare food(s) for self or others
  • Treat a break or cut in the skin
  • Care for an ill/injured person or animal
  • Insert or remove contact lenses

Immediately after you:

  • Use the restroom
  • Handle uncooked foods (especially raw meat, poultry, or fish)
  • Change a diaper
  • Blow your nose, sneeze, or cough
  • Touch an animal (especially a reptile)
  • Handle garbage
  • Care for an ill/injured person or animal

At work and school

In the work and school setting there are more people in a closer space making these settings a prime breeding ground for flu and cold causing germs! It is especially important to frequently wash or sanitize hands to keep from getting sick and spreading your illness to classmates and peers.

Educator tool kit:

Like most habits we learn them young - handwashing is no exception! Teaching young children in daycare and elementary school when and how to properly wash their hands can become a good habit they will stick to for life!

Like reading, writing, and math; handwashing must be taught. To help teachers and parents educate about handwashing Scott County Health Department has posted the following educational tools for your use.

Resources:

  • CDC: Clean Hands Save Lives  
    https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
    Learn the science behind the five simple but effective steps of handwashing (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry)
  • Scrub Club: National Sanitation Foundation International
    https://www.scrubclub.org/resources
    This website provides tools, games and videos for handwashing education. 
  • Germ City-Clean Hands Health People- University of Idaho
    http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/germcity/
    This website describes the Germ City Handwashing Educational Program and provides Germ City Educational Tools to facilitate the program.
  • Glo Germ
    http://www.glogerm.com
    This website offers free downloadable worksheets for kindergarten through 6th grades in English and French. Black UV lights, Glo Germ lotion and powder are available to buy from this company.
  • Henry the Hand
    http://www.henrythehand.com
    This website offers educators a school programs tool kit that includes curriculum, science projects and more. In addition the site offers interactive handwashing songs and videos, coloring pages, and posters.
  • School Network for Absenteeism Prevention:  It's a Snap
    https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/partnerships.html
    This website targets middle school youth and features free tool kit resources for teachers and nurses that include handwashing research findings
  • Be a Soaper Hero- University of Wyoming
    http://soaperhero.org/
    This interactive website offers activities student can do on the site, such as videos, coloring sheets, mazes and games as well as a teacher tool kit.