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Aug 02, 2023
Hand Hygiene in Schools & Early Care & Education Settings
Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages! Mega Doctor News One of the most important ways staff and children in schools can stay healthy is by keeping their hands clean throughout the day. In fact,
Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages!
Mega Doctor News
One of the most important ways staff and children in schools can stay healthy is by keeping their hands clean throughout the day. In fact, school-based and Early Care and Education (ECE) programs promoting hand hygiene can result in less gastrointestinal and respiratory illness and fewer missed days. That’s why it’s important to encourage cleaning hands at key times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not readily available.
CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water because handwashing effectively removes germs, dirt, and chemicals from hands. If soap and water are not readily available, using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can help staff and children avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.
Hand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,
Prevent accidental poisoningHand sanitizers should be stored up, away, and out of sight of children and should be used with adult supervision for children under 6 years of age or older children who have difficulty following instructions. Swallowing more than a couple of mouthfuls of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can cause alcohol poisoning. In fact, calls to U.S. poison centers related to alcohol-based hand sanitizers increased by 36% from 2019 to 2020.
Get help in case of poisoning
Call Poison Control, 1-800-222-1222, if you think a child has been poisoned but they are awake and alert; the center can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call 911 if you have a poison emergency or a child has collapsed or is not breathing.
Information Source: CDC
Mega Doctor NewsPromote Hand Hygiene in Your School or ECE ProgramTeach and reinforce handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.Build time into daily routines for children and staff to wash hands,Supervise and assist children with handwashing as needed.Consider making hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol available notConsider increasing access to hand hygiene infrastructure and suppliesPlace visual cues such as handwashing posters, stickers, and other materials in highly visible areas throughout the schoolLearn how to make a hygiene plan to help keep students safe.Know When and How to Use Hand SanitizerHand sanitizers can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in many situations. However,Hand sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs,Hand sanitizers may not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy.Hand sanitizers might not remove harmful chemicalsPrevent accidental poisoningcalls to U.S. poison centers related to alcohol-based hand sanitizers increased by 36% from 2019 to 2020.Get help in case of poisoning