Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in avoiding getting sick and spreading germs to others. Hand washing is especially important in schools to keep students and staff healthy. Respiratory infections, influenza, and stomach viruses/diarrheal disease are three of the top reasons why students miss school. The occurrence of all three of these illnesses can be reduced through proper hand washing with soap and clean, running water. Children who have been taught hand washing at school bring that knowledge home to parents and siblings and this can help family members get sick less often and miss less work and school.

How to wash your hands: It’s easy! Follow these five steps from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) every time.

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

When to wash your hands: Wash your hands often throughout the day, especially during these times when you are more likely to get and spread germs. During COVID-19, it is especially important to wash your hands:

• After you have been in a public place and touched an item or surface that may be frequently touched by other people. Examples are door handles, tables, gas pumps, shopping carts, or electronic cashier registers/screens, etc.
• Before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (that’s how germs enter our bodies)
• Before, during, and after preparing food
• Before eating food
• Before and after caring for someone at home who is sick
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
• After using the toilet
• After changing diapers or cleaning a child that has used the toilet
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste
• After handling pet food or pet treats
• After touching garbage

RESOURCES

Help spread the word on the importance of handwashing among your family, friends, coworkers, and community.

Hand Hygiene Information Sheet: Great two-sided information sheet developed by the Chatham County Public Health Department on the benefits of hand washing, cautions about the use of hand sanitizers, and proper handwashing steps for parents, guardians, teachers, school staff, and upper grade level students.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Handwashing Information

CDC: The Science Behind Handwashing

The CDC also has some good resources that can be printed off in English and Spanish:

Printable CDC Fact Sheets (English and Spanish)

Printable CDC Posters (English and Spanish)

Wash your Hands! Poster: This poster from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension lists the handwashing steps in both English and Spanish. This poster is great to print off and display in public and common use bathrooms.

Minnesota Department of Health Washing Hands Resources

Global Handwashing Day Resources

Lesson Plans by Grade Levels:

Created by the Chatham County Public Health Department, these lessons help meet the North Carolina Healthful Living Objectives that relate to germ theory and hand hygiene. Each lesson plan lists the objectives that the lesson helps fulfil.

The lessons below contain one short, 15-minute lesson per grade level tier (K-2, 3-5, and 6-8). These lessons are designed to establish hand washing as an expected behavior in the classroom, explain to students the importance of hand washing for health, and to have students practice proper hand washing techniques.

Grades K-2 Hand Hygiene Lesson Plan
Grades 3-5 Hand Hygiene Lesson Plan
Grades 6-8 Hand Hygiene Lesson Plan

Minnesota Department of Health Age Appropriate Handwashing Curriculum:
Handwashing: Prevent Disease and Outbreak Intervention for Young Children (Ages 3-6)
Handwashing: Prevent Disease and Outbreak Intervention for Older Children (Middle School Students)
Handwashing: Prevent Disease and Outbreak Intervention for High School and Adult Audiences

Hand Washing Songs for Kids

Videos:

Sesame Street You Tube Handwashing Video for Kids: English and Spanish

CDC Wash Your Hands You Tube Video for Kids: 30 second video demonstrating proper hand washing steps for kids to stay healthy.

CDC What You Need to Know About Handwashing You Tube Video for Adults: 2 minute video highlighting common questions about handwashing for adults.

CDC Handwashing You Tube Video: 9 minute hand washing presentation discussing hygiene education for children in schools, including what germs are, when to wash hands, how to wash hands, and how to avoid getting sick.

Here are some other ideas to spread the word:
• Parent and Guardian Involvement: Have students develop posters and pass out information to parents in the carpool line.
• Student Pledges: During lunch, homeroom, health classes, etc. have students sign pledges to fight germs by washing their hands regularly. Post the pledges in a prominent location in the school. You could also have students post selfies of themselves with their pledges. 

• Parent and Guardian Pledges: Ask students to challenge their parents and guardians to also wash their hands regularly and have them sign their own pledges to be posted around the house, specifically in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink.
• Photo Gallery: Have students take pictures of themselves demonstrating proper handwashing techniques to prevent illnesses. Post the pictures around the school, in school bathrooms, or in the lunch room.
• Morning Announcements: Quick and easy, use the Resources section to develop morning announcements. To increase student involvement, ask students to help develop or read the announcements.
• Watch and Learn: Use the videos provided in this section and have students discuss the benefits of hand washing in school and at home. Ideas for showing the videos include in homeroom, or on the morning announcements.

The following materials are available through the Chatham County Public Health Department. There are a limited number available and items will be provided on a first come first serve basis. To receive items, please contact Anna Stormzand at anna.stormzand@chathamnc.org or 919-545-8445. Please request items at least one week before they are needed if possible.

• Clean Hands Stickers: We have stickers (7 in.x5 in.) in both English and Spanish that illustrate the appropriate steps to wash away germs with soap and water. These can be placed in bathrooms, near kitchen or utility sinks, etc.

FOR QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT:

Anna Stormzand, MPH, CHES
Youth Health and Tobacco Initiatives Lead
Health Promotion and Policy Division
Chatham County Public Health Department 
anna.stormzand@chathamnc.org 
(919) 545-8445