Handwashing in Schools g June 2012 Handwashing is the best way to - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Handwashing in Schools g

June 2012

Handwashing is the best way to h d f i f i stop the spread of infections

Germs and Schools

35% of bus rails

contaminated* Researchers at the University

• f Arizona found that 44% of

l d f m playground surfaces were contaminated with bacteria*

* Fecal coliform bacteria

Germs on Desks

h h d k h d h Which desk had the most germs?

• Accountants
• Accountants
• Bankers
• Doctors
• Lawyers
• Teachers

TEACHERS !

Followed by: Followed by: Accountants Bankers Doctors Lawyers

Handwashing

• 80% of common infections can be spread

by the hands y

• Handwashing is the best way to stop the

g y p spread of infections

G A E h Germs Are Everywhere

Germs in the environment Hands Mucous membranes

Does handwashing work?

Margaret Ryan, Naval Health Research Centre, San Diego

N l it d d t h h d t l t 5

• Naval recruits ordered to wash hands at least 5

times during the day Result: 45% reduction in respiratory illness

• Result: 45% reduction in respiratory illness

Handwashing and Child Health

Squatter settlements in Karachi Pakistan Households given: Regular soap Regular soap

• r

Antibacterial soap

• r
• r

No Soap

Handwashing and Child Health

Results Results Households with soap:

• 50% reduction in pneumonia
• 53% reduction in diarrhea
• 34% reduction in impetigo

IMPORTANT No difference between plain soap and antibacterial soap

How to Wash Your Hands

• 1. Wet your hands

2 Apply soap

• 2. Apply soap
• 3. Rub your hands together for 20 seconds (sing twinkle twinkle)

4 Rinse your hands for 10 seconds

• 4. Rinse your hands for 10 seconds
• 5. Dry your hands with a clean towel
• 6. Use the towel to turn off the taps and open the washroom door

p p Leave the washroom neat and tidy

Wash all parts of your hands

• 1. Palms

2 B t fi

1 4

• 2. Between fingers
• 3. Backs

4 Wrists

• 4. Wrists
• 5. Thumbs

6 Fingertips

2 5

• 6. Fingertips
• 7. Nails

7 3 6

Hand Drying

• Removes 42% more germs than washing alone
• Do not share towels
• Hot air dryers promote bacterial growth
• Hot air dryers promote bacterial growth

because hands are left warm and moist

WHEN TO WASH WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Principles:

• Whenever the hands might be

significantly contaminated significantly contaminated

• Whenever the hands might transfer

Whenever the hands might transfer germs to the mucous membranes

WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS

Before eating or preparing food

After Touching Shared Objects

Pens & Pencils Computers Pens & Pencils Library & text books Cell phones

After Touching Shared Objects

Lab equipment Gym equipment Musical instruments instruments Remember, don’t share recorders or mouth pieces

After recess After recess

After using the washroom After using the washroom

Other good times for handwashing

Respiratory etiquette Respiratory etiquette

Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your sleeve

Barriers To Good Handwashing Barriers To Good Handwashing

Barriers To Good Handwashing Barriers To Good Handwashing

Barriers To Good Handwashing Barriers To Good Handwashing

No Water...

Barriers To Good Handwashing

Sinks, taps, soap and paper towels too high paper towels too high to reach . . .

Barriers To Good Handwashing Barriers To Good Handwashing

• Push faucets don’t stay on long enough

R t i ti i h d t id

• Recontamination is hard to avoid

Barriers To Good Handwashing

• Friction from drying with a towel removes germs

from the hands U i l ff h h

• Using towels to turn off the tap or open the

washroom door prevents recontamination

• Hot air dryers leave the hands moist and warm
• Hot air dryers leave the hands moist and warm,

ideal conditions for bacteria to grow on hands

Barriers To Good Handwashing

Soaps and Hand Sanitizers Soaps and Hand Sanitizers

Bacteria: Good or Bad Germs? Bacteria: Good or Bad Germs?

60% f lif th

• 60% of life on earth
• 2-3 billion kinds of bacteria
• 2-3 billion kinds of bacteria
• Older than plants or animals

Older than plants or animals

• Important for the environment

p

• Important for human health

Good Bacteria Good Bacteria

• On your skin and in your body

On your skin and in your body

• Don’t make you sick
• Protect against disease
• More bacteria cells than human cells in

your body y y

• Stay with you all of your life

Bad Bacteria Bad Bacteria

• Survive less than 24 hours
• Don’t multiply on the skin
• Make you sick
• Easily removed by handwashing
• Easily removed by handwashing

l Use plain soap

• Removes bad bacteria
• Leaves good bacteria alone
• Doesn’t cause antibiotic resistance
• Doesn t cause antibiotic resistance
• Antibiotic soap is no better than plain soap

Antibiotic soap is no better than plain soap

d d Ingredients to avoid

Triclosan

• Most common antibacterial ingredient

g

• Bacteria become resistant to triclosan
• Also become resistant to antibiotics used in medicine

so com r s stant to ant

• t cs us

n m c n

Quaternary ammonium compounds = Quats

“ ”

• “-nium” products
• Although used to disinfect hard surfaces, does

not kill germs on the skin not kill germs on the skin

• Cause resistance to antibiotics used in medicine

H d iti Hand sanitizers

Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers

• Need to be ≥ 60% alcohol to kill germs
• Kill many bacteria and viruses
• Do not cause antibiotic resistance

Do not cause antibiotic resistance

• Should not contain triclosan or quats

Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers

Di d Disadvantages

• Don’t work if hands are greasy or dirty

g y y

• Will not kill some germs that cause

diarrhea diarrhea

• Flammable
• Poisonous if consumed

Alcohol Based Hand Sanitizers

NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR HANDWASHING

Alcohol free hand sanitizers Alcohol free hand sanitizers

• Active ingredient = benzalkonium chloride

= quaternary ammonium compound quaternary ammonium compound

• Does not kill germs on the hands

N t d d

• Not recommended

Hand Hygiene

Plain soap



Alcohol based hand sanitizers Alcohol based hand sanitizers (alcohol the only active ingredient)



Antibacterial soap (triclosan, quats)

x

N n l h l h nd s niti s ( u ts)

x

Non-alcohol hand sanitizers (quats)

x

How to spread the word, not the germs

K – Grade 3 Authorized Resources for Teachers

d b dd /t h www.dobugsneeddrugs.org/teachers Easy SMART board access

Developed by Do Bugs Need Drugs in collaboration with Alberta Health and Wellness and Alberta Education

Handwashing video for g elementary grades

Handwashing video for older g students and adults

Wash Your Hands! Resources for Schools

B k d i f m ti

• Background information
• Information sheets for school personnel

p

• Articles for school newsletters
• Checklist for assessing handwashing in

student and staff washrooms

• Practical solutions to handwashing problems

H d hi i

• Handwashing signs

What can you do? What can you do?

• Soap.

Ensure plain soap is provided in all p p p p washrooms.

• Paper towels.

Make sure paper towels are available in all washrooms.

• Hand sanitizers.

Use products whose only active ingredient is alcohol. Make sure dispensers and bottles are properly located.

What can you do?

To avoid recontaminating hands  Move trash can outside the washroom door to encourage opening the door with the towel to encourage opening the door with the towel  Prop open the washroom door, if possible  If school is renovating, consider motion- iti t h it l t th t b sensitive taps, hospital taps that can be pushed with the wrist, doorless washrooms

What can you do? y

Make handwashing a priority in your school  Inform K-Gr 3 teachers of the authorized resources for handwashing  Help lunch room aides to make handwashing a routine practice before eating a routine practice before eating  Work with computer room teachers, lib i t t t h d hi t librarians, etc. to promote handwashing to reduce the spread of germs through c nt ct ith sh d bj cts contact with shared objects

What can you do? y

Washroom courtesy  Speak with custodians and help them to understand that soap and towels need to understand that soap and towels need to be available all the time  Encourage students to be neat and tidy in the washroom

What can you do? y

Work with parents  Include articles about handwashing in your school newsletter school newsletter  Ask School Councils to assist with h d h h l promoting handwashing in your schools  Be a positive role model for staff, p m f ff, students and families

Apply rules at home pp y Be role models in the community

For more information

Public Health Agency of Canada

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/chn-rcs/handwash-eng.php

Alberta Health Services

http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/influenza-wash-hands.html

Do Bugs Need Drugs?

http://www.dobugsneeddrugs.org

Disinfectant Overkill

http://www.womenandenvironment.org/ p g

US Department of Health and Human Services Product Ingredient Database Product Ingredient Database

http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

Contact Us Contact Us

info@dobugsneeddrugs org info@dobugsneeddrugs.org 1-800-931-9111