Information for Teachers
:: Introduction
Past outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have increased awareness of the importance of respiratory infection control practices, not only in Canada, but worldwide. Warnings about an impending pandemic influenza, a serious worldwide disease that could take the lives of many, add to the need for proper infection control practices in society. Illnesses related to the common cold and influenza (the flu) are a daily, ongoing and a very real concern.
What do SARS, pandemic influenza, the common cold and flu all have in common? They are all respiratory infections, easily spread to others and each potentially fatal. Measures to reduce the spread of these infections are fundamentally the same. Fortunately, preventive measures are not only basic, but also inexpensive! In contrast, the cost of complacency to society is staggering in terms of treatment, lost productivity, illness and death. One American study showed that respiratory infections account for 60-80 per cent of all school absenteeism and 30-50 per cent of all workplace absenteeism. Another study showed that a hand hygiene program that combines education and the use of a hand sanitizer in the classroom can lower absenteeism by as much as 50.6 per cent. Research is clear: healthy hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs, infections and communicable diseases. There is a compelling need for an education program targeted to children to reduce the spread of respiratory illness.
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has made healthy hand hygiene a priority and developed “Be a Germ Stopper!”- a hand hygiene education program, in 2004. Adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Be a Germ Stopper!” includes: handwashing; using alcohol-based hand sanitizers; covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm (not your hands); being aware of the existence of germs that live on surfaces (waiting to be picked up by your hands); and keeping your hands away from your face (to help keep germs out of your body). Washing hands with soap and water will always be an important way to remove germs from our hands and it is essential after using the washroom or whenever hands are visibly soiled. However, alcohol-based hand sanitizers can play a crucial role in preventing the spread of the common cold and influenza, particularly when used before eating and after coughing or sneezing.
The goal of “Be a Germ Stopper!” is to educate teachers, children and their families about healthy hand hygiene in order to reduce the incidence of respiratory infections and the consequences that accompany their transmission. The lesson plans and activities in this resource manual are linked to the Ontario Curriculum from kindergarten to grade 8. They were developed for teachers to educate children about the principles of healthy hand hygiene in order to improve these practices in schools, thereby reducing respiratory infection rates.
In order to see an improvement in proper hand cleaning, ongoing barriers in schools must be addressed. Barriers include: lack of water, soap, or paper towels; insufficient time; not enough sinks; and lack of support from parents. To overcome these barriers, it is vital that we educate parents (and the public in general) about the importance of proper hand cleaning in the prevention of illness. We must also encourage school policies that support proper hand cleaning. We must make it easier for teachers to relay this important message to children, as has been addressed in the Teacher Resource Manual. And finally, we must recognize the important role that alcohol-based hand sanitizers play in overcoming certain barriers in some facilities.
Together, we can create an environment where healthy hand hygiene is a normal practice. We all have roles to play. Parents have the responsibility of teaching children the basic principles of healthy hand hygiene very early in life. Teachers are in the unique position of providing regular reinforcement to children in order to instill healthy life-long habits. Through “Be a Germ Stopper!”, Peel Public Health will work with schools to make healthy hand hygiene the accepted practice for our children. In the end, we will all benefit by reducing the spread of colds and influenza in the community.
Thank you for being a Germ Stopper!
