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Six Hand Washing Tips to Help Protect Your Family

Monday, July 27, 2015

As the beginning of the school year approaches, parents need to remind their children about the importance of hand washing. Every day people touch several surfaces including books, desks, door knobs, sink handles, and other people and many of them harbor germs like bacteria and viruses that can cause illnesses.

According to WebMD.com, approximately 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by touch. The CDC reports that the simple act of hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of viral and bacterial infections.

Dr. Beverly Connelly, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, says that hand washing is the number one defense against many infections. It’s especially important after using the bathroom and before eating.

Connelly says washing for 20 seconds with soap and water is best; but hand sanitizers also work well against most germs. “Germs get left everywhere. Good hand hygiene practices help prevent catching colds and respiratory viral infections, stomach bugs and diarrhea, as well as MRSA and other skin infections."

Some tips to make hand washing second nature for your child:

• Make sure your child understands why it’s important to wash hands.
• Set a good example by establishing a good hand washing routine at home.
• Emphasize that the most important times to wash hands are after using the bathroom, sneezing or blowing their nose and before eating.
• When washing hands with soap and water, make sure to scrub hands together for at least 20 seconds. When using hand sanitizer make sure to rub the product over all the surfaces of the hands and fingers until hands are dry.
• Include individual packets of hand sanitizer wipes in your child’s lunch for washing hands before eating.
• Learn about hand hygiene practices at your child’s school. Are there soap dispensers in the bathrooms? Hand sanitizer bottles in the classrooms? Do teachers make sure kids clean their hands before lunch or snack time?

About Cincinnati Children’s

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center ranks third in the nation among all Honor Roll hospitals in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best Children’s Hospitals. It is also ranked in the top 10 for all 10 pediatric specialties. Cincinnati Children’s, a non-profit organization, is one of the top three recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a research and teaching affiliate of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The medical center is internationally recognized for improving child health and transforming delivery of care through fully integrated, globally recognized research, education and innovation. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Connect on the Cincinnati Children’s blog, via Facebook and on Twitter.