As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spreads throughout the United States, it鈥檚 important to refresh one鈥檚 memory on basic disease prevention techniques. Parents should be passing these techniques on to their children.
The number one way to prevent COVID-19 鈥 along with other diseases like the flu 鈥 is hand-washing. Frequently washing your hands using the correct technique is the best way to kill germs and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Latania Logan, MD, MS, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at 脱衣直播, stopped by the Laurance Armour Day School to teach preschoolers how to wash their hands correctly and to explain the importance of teaching kids about hand-washing. LADS is a child care facility for young children of Rush employees and also provides after-school care for children at surrounding schools.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very important for us to make sure we are teaching children how to properly wash their hands. This is the time of the year where there are many viruses going around, including the flu and many cold viruses, and as everybody has heard, this novel coronavirus,鈥 Logan said.
鈥淲ith children, a lot of them if they do have or do get it are probably very mild in their symptoms. They may have a cold or just a mild cough and won鈥檛 get very ill. But that doesn鈥檛 mean they can鈥檛 spread germs.鈥
Sing-along sanitation
recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds, humming 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥 from beginning to end twice as a timer. While the happy birthday song an easy song to remember, Logan created a song specifically for the children by setting lyrics about hand washing to the tune of 鈥淎re you Sleeping (Brother John).鈥
These lyrics taught the kids the proper technique of hand-washing. This method included scrubbing both the top and bottoms of your hands as well as in between your finger.
The song should be sung twice, once while scrubbing your hands and a second time while rinsing your hands off. Logan also showed students how properly dry your hands 鈥 making sure you dry them off completely 鈥 and remembering to turn your faucet off with a paper towel.
鈥榊ou don鈥檛 need to have all the answers鈥
Logan emphasized the importance of keeping kids well informed. It鈥檚 especially important during these times, where social media and misinformation can create panic.
鈥淵ou want to make sure your children are informed. So the first thing to do is listen to them so you can understand their concerns and give them the appropriate information,鈥 Logan explained.
Logan recommended using calming techniques for children if they are experiencing any anxiety about getting sick. She said she likes to use breathing techniques to calm a child who is experiencing anxiety.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to have all the answers. It is OK to say 鈥業 don鈥檛 know,鈥 but you do want to give your kids information, and you do want to give it in a very calm way.鈥
Teaching your kids how to properly wash their hands is crucial when preventing the spread of diseases like the flu or COVID-19. In fact, we all should be washing our hands frequently, until they are clean ... squeaky clean!
