December 3,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, its National Handwashing Awareness Week this year is on December 3-9 ,2017. Handwashing is a simple but important way to keep the families you work with healthy.
Why do children need to wash their hands?
Children are at an increased risk for coming into contact with contaminants like Lead.
Lead-based paint, found in older homes and even some toys, can contaminate dust and soil in and around the house and pose a threat to children, who tend to stick their hands in their mouths. One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your kids safe from the harmful effects of lead is to make sure they wash their hands after playtime, especially after playing outside. For more information regarding lead poisoning please visit, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/tips/water.htm
What is the proper handwashing technique?
• Wet hands with clean, running water.
• Apply soap.
• Rub hands together and scrub palms, the back of hands, between fingers and under nails.
• Rinse hands well.
• Air dry hands or dry with a clean towel.
When should children wash their hands?
Children should always wash their hands but should wash their hands before and after eating as well as before and after touching someone who is sick. They should also always was their hands after:
• Using the restroom.
• Coughing, sneezing, or blowing their nose.
• Touching animals.
• Touching a surface or object that is touched or used by a lot of people.
How can parents and teachers get children to wash their hands?
A very effective way to get children into the handwashing habit is to make it a family activity. Children look up to the adults in their lives, so it’s important that you lead by example by not only reminding your children to wash their hands but by getting in line to wash right behind them!
For more information regarding handwashing please visit the following web pages:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hand-washing.html
https://www.cdc.gov/…/show-me-the-science-hand-sanitizer.ht…
The Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program is a program of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey which works to eliminate childhood lead poisoning and maintain healthy and safe homes. The program’s educational services are geared toward children ages six and younger and their parents.
We provide the following services at schools and community agencies:
• Free and exciting presentations to children 6 years and
younger using the Elmo Lead Away video.
• Free lead prevention and healthy homes
presentations/workshops to programs that serve children and families
