Attack of the Ginormous Germs

Healthy Me

ATTACK OF THE Ginormous GERMS!! ATTACK OF THE GINORMOUS GERMS!!

What’s the big deal about washing my hands? Have you heard of GERMS? They’re out there. Just waiting to strike!

That’s why you’re probably told to wash your hands, a lot I bet. But, do you know why it really is so important?

Think about everything you did today. You probably touched some door knobs. You may have blown your nose, hugged a reindeer, touched the gum under your desk, or maybe played some video games. Did you go to school today? Did you play outside? And you had to use the bathroom. That is a lot of places with a lot of germs.

What if no one washed their hands and we were all touching the same things you are touching? Pretty gross, huh. Think about all the germs you have on your hands when it’s time to eat. Do you really want to touch the food you put into your mouth with those “germy” hands? That’s like asking an army of germs to just march right in. (cont’d on page 5)

Your secret weapon against Germs

But you can win the battle against those nasty germs and keep you and the others around you healthy. WASH YOUR HANDS. Makes sense now, doesn’t it.

Do you know when to wash your hands? If your hands are dirty, wash them. That’s pretty easy. But there are other important times to wash your hands.

• Always after using the bathroom

• Before eating or touching food • After touching animals • When you get home from school • After you have been on your tablet, phone or playing video games • If you blow your nose, cough or have been around someone who is sick PARENTS FYI Get your kids excited about hand washing. Let them pick out their favorite scented soap and some fun hand towels.

Make a game of who has the best smelling hands!

• When you come in from playing outside

If you don’t remember, you can always ask an adult if you should wash your hands.

But, if you really want to keep those germs away you need to be washing your hands the right way. Luckily, it’s not hard to do.

• Warm or cold water is fine. You don’t have to use hot water. Any kind of soap works. Maybe you have a favorite color or smell.

• Lather both of your hands all over, between your fingers and under your nails, where the sneaky germs like to hide.

• Do this for 10-15 seconds. The time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.

• Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.