EveryÂone needs to wash their hands, espeÂcialÂly careÂgivers who come in conÂtact with chilÂdren and the chilÂdren themÂselves! Since we canÂnot avoid expoÂsure to germs, we must do our best to preÂvent spreadÂing disÂeases by washÂing our hands often and corÂrectÂly in child care settings.
Our 5 clock hour (0.5 CEU) childÂcare course SanÂiÂtaÂtion for DisÂease PreÂvenÂtion in EarÂly ChildÂhood ProÂgrams is writÂten for all types of childÂcare facilÂiÂties (includÂing famÂiÂly homes). In this cousre, we disÂcuss how to proÂvide a clean, sanÂiÂtary enviÂronÂment to proÂtect chilÂdren’s health and the health of the child care providers.
One of the many things you can do to keep your childÂcare facilÂiÂty safe an healthy is to wash your hands. FreÂquent and thorÂough hand washÂing can drasÂtiÂcalÂly reduce the spread of disÂeases between staff and chilÂdren. Hand washÂing can proÂtect the younger chilÂdren who have weakÂer, less develÂoped immune systems.
HowÂevÂer, many of us do not spend enough time washÂing our hands and do not put much thought into this critÂiÂcal area of our lives! Even we were suprised by how long experts recÂomÂmend that you should wash your hands to safeÂly remove bacÂteÂria, dirt and germs.
Here are some tips for thorough and safe hand washing in child care for you and for the children:
- Wet hands under runÂning water. Hot water is not necÂesÂsary. Data actuÂalÂly show that warm or hot water does not remove more bacÂteÂria than cool water.
- Use liqÂuid soap from a disÂpenser. Soap bars harÂbor bacteria.
- LathÂer both hands well and scrub them vigÂorÂousÂly for at least 20 secÂonds. (This is about the time it takes to sing hapÂpy birthÂday twice.)
- Scrub all parts of both hands. This includes thumbs, wrists, the areas between finÂgers, around cutiÂcles, under finÂgerÂnails, and the back of your hands.
- Rinse hands thorÂoughÂly under runÂning water.
- Let water drain from wrists to fingers.
- Dry both hands with an autoÂmatÂic dryÂer or a new sinÂgle-use towel.
- For hand-held faucets, turn off the water using a disÂposÂable towÂel instead of bare hands to avoid reconÂtÂaÂmÂiÂnaÂtion of clean hands.
WashÂcloth hand washÂing is acceptÂable for chilÂdren under the age of two years and for chilÂdren with speÂcial needs who are not capaÂble of washÂing their own hands. Use a soapy washÂcloth and warm water. Use an indiÂvidÂual washÂcloth and towÂel for each child, and use each washÂcloth and towÂel only one time between launderings.
Sometimes children resist hand washing
…occaÂsionÂalÂly quite vigÂorÂousÂly. HowÂevÂer, hand washÂing is extremeÂly imporÂtant to insurÂing a child’s conÂtinÂued health and wellÂbeÂing and is not negotiable.
A child care provider should approach hand wishÂing in a firm, but kind manÂner. You should nevÂer punÂish or threatÂen to punÂish a child who resists hand washÂing. SimÂply make it clear in a posÂiÂtive way that everyone’s hands must be washed at cerÂtain specÂiÂfied times, like after outÂdoor playÂtime, after toiÂletÂing, etc. ModÂelÂing good hand washÂing pracÂtices will also proÂmote healthy life-long practices.
In SanÂiÂtaÂtion for DisÂease PreÂvenÂtion in EarÂly ChildÂhood ProÂgrams, we covÂer how to proÂmote a healthy and clean enviÂronÂment for chilÂdren in all childÂhood facilÂiÂties. We’ve touched on healthy hand washÂing in this blog.
Do you want to learn more about health and safeÂty for young chilÂdren? Check out our blog on how to proÂtect chilÂdren from the sun while playÂing outÂside or take our course ManÂagÂing Health and SafeÂty in Child Care for a comÂpreÂhenÂsive review of health and safeÂty in childcare.
Please let us know how we can be of addiÂtionÂal assisÂtance! Call us: 1–800-685‑7610, MonÂday through FriÂday, 9–5 ET, or email us days, evenings and weekÂends: info@CareCourses.com. We’re here to help!
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