| Germs are invisible and they are just about | | | | soap sits is clean. Using bars of soap |
| everywhere. When you or your child touch a | | | | usually means that a soap dish is nearby. |
| doorknob, pick up a book or pet a dog, hands | | | | Soap dishes that drain allow the soap to dry |
| pick up germs. | | | | and reduce the chance of bacteria growing on |
| | | | the soap. If the soap dish does not have a |
| While some germs have little effect, germs | | | | drain, a regular cleaning is needed. Pump |
| like E.Coli and Salmonella, can make people | | | | soaps are great at avoiding this and kids |
| very sick. | | | | love to use them. |
| | | | |
| Since we can't tell the good germs from the | | | | Towels also contain germs and it's a great |
| bad, we all need to wash our hands and ensure | | | | idea to change them daily for heavy use. |
| that our children wash their hands to protect | | | | Hanging them up to dry also reduces the |
| ourselves. | | | | bacteria content of towels. |
| | | | |
| Parents need to lead by example and remind | | | | Children love to put things in their mouth |
| children to wash hands, especially at the | | | | and fingers usually end up in there too. |
| following times: | | | | Encourage children at an early age to keep |
| | | | their fingers out of their mouth to reduce |
| After using the washroom | | | | germs. |
| | | | |
| After petting an animal | | | | Sometimes lots of handwashing can lead to dry |
| | | | and chapped skin on the hands. These cracks |
| After picking up after the family pet | | | | can let germs enter through the skin, but |
| | | | keeping a hand lotion handy near the soap |
| After changing diapers | | | | dish/pump and using a small amount after each |
| | | | washing will keep hands looking better. |
| Before and after preparing food | | | | |
| | | | Of an utmost concerns, especially in terms of |
| Before eating | | | | petting zoos, is the possibility of the |
| | | | transmission of E. coli, a bacteria that can |
| Before and after brushing your teeth | | | | cause diarrhea (including bloody diarrhea), |
| | | | stomach upset, vomitting, fever and even |
| When returning home after an outing, | | | | hospitalization in severe cases. |
| especially if the visit was to a doctor's | | | | |
| office. When using public restrooms for | | | | To reduce the risk of exposure to the E.coli |
| handwashing, try to avoid touching surfaces | | | | bacteria become aware of which animals pose |
| after washing. | | | | the greatest risk of transmitting the |
| | | | bacteria - examples include calves, pigs, |
| Hands need to be washed more often during the | | | | young poultry, animal feces, raw eggs, raw |
| cold and flu season, especially if someone | | | | milk and sick animals. Wash hands immediately |
| with a cold is around. | | | | after handling, patting or feeding animals |
| | | | and before any food consumption. Carry |
| In addition to washing hands, it's important | | | | antibacterial wipes for convenience. If |
| that hands be washed thoroughly. Hands should | | | | handwashing facilities are used, supervise |
| be rubbed at least 15 seconds with soap and | | | | children under 5 carefully. |
| water. Attention should also be given to | | | | |
| clean under the nails and any rings. Hands | | | | Avoid communal basins for handwashing. |
| should also be dried thoroughly with a clean | | | | Supervise young children closely. Children |
| towel. | | | | under five are more susceptible to the |
| | | | bacteria. Teach children not to put anything |
| While it is not necessary to use | | | | in their mouth during the visit, including |
| anti-bacterial soap, ordinary soap should | | | | fingers, pacifiers that may have fallen on |
| due, anti-bacterial products do come in handy | | | | the ground, toys and any animal feed. Never |
| when soap and water is not available. | | | | allow the consumption of raw milk. Avoid any |
| | | | food or beverage consumption near any animal |
| It's also important to ensure that where the | | | | interaction areas or prior to washing hands. |