Hand Wash Day was celebrated on Friday, 15 October.
As a parent there is nothing worse than seeing your child suffering unnecessary pain and illness, not to mention the cost and inconvenience of treatment. With the added concern of Covid-19, there has never been a more important time to ensure your children understand the importance of hand washing and practice hand washing with soap regularly.
When should you wash your hands?
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After sneezing and coughing
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Before touching food
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After going to the toilet
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After playing
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After being in crowded places
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After contact with animals
How should you be washing your hands?
It should take at least 15 seconds to wash your hands – any less and you may not have killed harmful bacteria. . Wet your hands with clean water.. Squeeze soap or hand wash onto your hands so that you have enough to cover entire surface of hands.. Rub your hands together with your palms facing each other.. Place your right palm over the back of your other hand and interlace your fingers, then repeat on the other hand.. Rub your hands together palm to palm, making sure that your fingers are interlocking.. Place hands palm to palm, with fingers facing opposite directions. Slide your hands away from each other and bend fingertips so that your hands are interlocked. Rub the backs of your fingers against the opposing palm.. Using your right hand, make a fist around your left thumb and rub, then repeat on the other hand.. Clasp the fingers of your right hand together and rub your left palm with a circular motion, then do the same on the other hand.. Rinse hands with water.. Dry thoroughly with a towel.
Lifebouy suggests the following five ways to make hand washing an easy, and fun habit for the whole family1. Sing a song
The correct amount of time to wash hands correctly with soap is 20 seconds.
Sing the alphabet or Old MacDonald or make up your own healthy hand washing song to sing while washing to track the time and keep kids entertained. 2. Track and Reward
Lifebuoy School of 5 uses a hand washing diary for Moms and Kids to track their process during their 21-day journey. Start your own calendar and add stickers as a reward for each time handwashing is completed. 3. Make it Routine
Many parents find it best to build hand washing into their everyday routine, adding it to a series of regular events, such as hanging up their coat and putting away their schoolbag, so that kids eventually do it automatically. 4. Make it Easier
Make it easier for kids to reach the basin by adding a stool or step so they can easily reach everything. Create a more fun bathroom environment by adding a fun soap dish or stickers to the mirror. 5. Relearn the Alphabet to Make Hand washing a Habit
