McMeen Elementary

Hand Washing - An Easy Way to Limit the Spread of Illness

11/01/23, 1:52 PM

Teach Your Children About Handwashing. Lead by Example!

The United States Centers for Disease Control reminds us about the importance of handwashing with soap and water, especially during key times throughout the day. CDC encourages parents and caregivers to make clean hands a healthy habit to keep themselves and their families safe.

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. Studies have shown that handwashing can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related sicknesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, such as a cold or the flu. When your family is healthy, you don’t have to worry about missing school, work, or other activities.

Help your children make handwashing a healthy habit at home, school, and play.

• Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing—wet, lather, scrub (for 20 seconds), rinse, and dry—and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Caution! Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol or contact with their eyes. (We do not use hand sanitizer in our Early Childhood Education classrooms).
• Give frequent reminders so that handwashing becomes a habit and a regular part of your child’s day.
• Lead by example.

For more information on how clean hands save lives, visit www.cdc.gov/handwashing.