Hygiene

Importance of Hygiene

Maintaining Hand Hygiene

1. Teach proper Hand washing. Make sure your child uses soap and lathers for at least 15 seconds before rinsing.
2. Encourage your child to wash hands with soap and water:
   • When hands look dirty.
   • Before eating or preparing food.
   • After touching raw meat.
   • After touching any body fluids like blood, saliva, urine, or vomit.
   • After touching animals.
   • After blowing their nose, sneezing or coughing.
   • After going to the toilet.
3. Teach your child to cover sneezes and coughs with sleeve but not with hands.
4. Teach your child to brush twice a day.
5. Get a fun timer (music) or hourglass to help your child to brush longer.
6. Set up regular Bath timings.
7. Make sure your child washes all of their body, including under their arms, genital and anal areas.
8. Thoroughly dry their body before they get dressed.
9. Children need fresh clothes every day, even if their old clothes don’t smell.
10. Clean underwear everyday is especially important.
11. Hang up their school uniform to air when they get home each day.

7 Steps of Hand Washing

Total time required to wash hands properly: 30 seconds

• Step 1 – Wet your hands and apply enough soap (coin size).
• Step 2 – Rub your palms together.
• Step 3 – Rub the back of each hand.
• Step 4 – Rub both your hands while interlocking your fingers.
• Step 5 – Rub the back of your fingers.
• Step 5 – Rub the tips of your fingers.
• Step 6 – Rub your thumbs and the ends of your wrists.
• Step 7 – Rinse both hands properly with water.