 |
||
|
Your store:Meals For You Change Store |
You are not signed in. Sign In | |
 | |
 |
Newsletters |
|
Tips, Hints and Articles |
|
Kitchen Glossary |
|
Dietary Exchange Tables |
|
Health Guide |
|
Guide to Meat Cuts |
|
USDA Food Search |
 | |
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|
Handwashing for the Whole Family (ARA)- As fall approaches and children head back to school, they can look forward to many great things: New classrooms and desks, playing on the monkey bars at recess, shooting basketball hoops in gym class, seeing their friends who have been away all summer . . . and picking up germs from all of them! Back-to-school time is the perfect time to encourage proper handwashing habits for the whole family. Keeping hands clean is the most important means for preventing infectious diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these can include respiratory infections and gastrointestinal disorders. Teaching kids at home about proper handwashing helps them to maintain good habits and keeps them healthier as they return to school in the fall. Adults, too, could use a reminder so they can provide a good example for their children. The first step is finding a hand soap that cleans properly and is effective for the whole family. "Liquid hand soap in a dispenser is a more sanitary and convenient way to wash up," says home-care expert Gerry Luepke. Since kids are busy with all kinds of activities at this time of year, they can easily forget about proper washing habits or about handwashing altogether. According to Luepke, "Simply stressing the importance of not spreading germs to their friends and family and making handwashing a fun activity will help to keep kids clean." The best suggestion is to start early. A good system for pre-kindergarten or younger children is to wash hands for two verses of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." With older children and teenagers, being up front about germs and the spread of disease should help them remember to keep their hands clean. It is important for both kids and adults to know how and when to wash their hands, and to spread this knowledge to friends and family (instead of spreading germs!) Here are some helpful tips to ensure proper technique and timing. How to Wash Hands Properly 1) Roll up long sleeves and remove any rings from fingers. 2) Using warm water, wet hands thoroughly. 3) Apply soap and wash completely, rubbing palms together, getting the tops of hands, in between fingers, and the wrists. After kids have been playing outside, in a sandbox or on a playground, for example, have them wash their forearms as well. 4) Rinse hands well. 5) Dry hands with a disposable paper towel. 6) Using the paper towel, turn off the facet and dispose of the towel. (Courtesy of the Texas Department of Health) When to Wash Your Hands Before: - Preparing food. - Eating. - Changing a diaper. - Fixing a wound or injury (yours or someone else's). - Handling an infant. - Inserting or removing contact lenses. (This is becoming increasingly important as more and more young children are wearing them. According to the American Optometric Association, about 25 Million Americans wear contact lenses. Of this grouping, ten percent are 16 or younger. ) After : - Using the bathroom. - Changing a diaper. - Handling uncooked foods, especially meat, poultry, or fish. - Playing with a pet. - Visiting someone who is ill. - Sneezing or blowing your nose. - Whenever your hands do not feel clean! As the Centers for Disease Control have noted, dirty hands are a key source in the spread of disease. By using the simple tips mentioned above and maintaining good habits outside of the home, everyone should have a healthier and cleaner fall season. Courtesy of Article Resource Association, www.aracopy.com, e-mail: info@aracopy.com. |
| Try our keyword search! We search both title and content to find useful information for you. |
| More Tips: |
|
|
1 
