National Handwashing Awareness Week

Today marks the start of National Handwashing Awareness Week, and though it doesn't directly relate to early literacy, I wanted to be mindful of it throughout my blog this week. Since, I'm a CMA and all.... :)

As we all know, in order to stay healthy, and keep our kids healthy and learning, we need to wash our hands. Clean hands are crucial in preventing the dreaded "invinceable bug" that often times gets passed back and forth between family members.

Here are some facts from the Centers for Disease control on when you should be washing your hands, and what the proper way to wash your hands is.

When should you wash your hands?

• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After touching garbage

What is the right way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean running water (warm or cold) and apply soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Continue rubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry.

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to reduce the number of germs on them. If soap and water  are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs.

Be sure to follow my posts this week as I post different handwashing resources; songs, books, and maybe even a coupon for soap or two.