Germaction

Germaction Archives

Nathalie Thibault's bachelor's degree in Microbiology and master's degree in Immunology make her a germ and immune system specialist. Since the birth of her two daughters, she has been particularly interested in the infections which affect children who attend daycare. She is a teacher, speaker, and author. The specialized documents and courses she conceives help those involved in early childhood outsmart germs. She writes for a magazine called La Culbute and the mamanpourlavie.com website.

 

Wash our hands: yes, but not just any way!

Another column about washing our hands! Yes, but not just any column, read on and you will see... We will never say it enough. Washing our hands is THE most important means of prevention against infections, no matter where we are, no matter what the infection is. Even if this small gesture seems boring or ordinary, you must understand its numerous subtleties. Why do we wash our hands?

 

1. Occasions: Before preparing food

 

Where germs come from? Off of your hands which have touched several objects

Why? To avoid contaminating food

 

2. Occasions: After having eaten

 

Where germs come from? Food

Why? To remove food on hand

 

3. Occasions: After having gone to the bathroom

 

Where germs come from? Your own feces

Why? To avoid spreading some everywhere

 

4. Occasions: After having helped a child who went to the bathroom

 

Where germs come from? Feces of the child

Why? To avoid spreading some everywhere

 

5. Occasions: After a diaper change (you and the child)

 

Where germs come from? Feces of the child

Why? To avoid spreading some everywhere

 

6. Occasions: After outdoor play

 

Where germs come from? Matter, sand, toys, soil, water, animals... all depends on the activity

Why? To remove the germs one may have collected outside and not bring them inside

 

7. Occasions: After blowing your nose

 

Where germs come from? Your nasal secretions

Why? To avoid spreading germs everywhere

 

8. Occasions: After having blown a child's nose

 

Where germs come from? Child's nasal secretions

Why? To avoid spreading the child's germs everywhere

 

9. Occasions: Before looking at a skin injury

 

Where germs come from? De vos mains

Why? To prevent infecting the skin

 

10. Occasions: After having taken care of a skin injury

 

Where germs come from? The wound itself or blood

Why? To avoid the transmission of infections through blood (universal precautions)

 

11. Occasions: Before applying sunscreen

 

Where germs come from? Your hands

 

Why? To avoid bringing germs towards the face of the child. The face is the entry point for germs (eyes, mouth, nose)

 

12. Occasions: When entering the daycare

 

Where germs come from? Objects which you touched before arriving

 

Why? To avoid bringing germs inside the daycare

 

13. Occasions: When leaving the daycare

 

Where germs come from? Objects touched at the daycare

Why? To avoid bringing germs home

 

14. Occasions: When your hands are obviously soiled

 

Where germs come from? Not always germs depending on what soiled hands

Why? Sticky hands collect more germs!

 

The important thing may not be the number of times you wash your hands, but
the way you wash them must be effective! Washing your hands the correct way
once is better than several incorrect hand washings!

Washing our hands with soap and water

It is the detergent's (soap) action with the water and the mechanical action (scrubbing) which do the work. Washing our hands with soap does not necessarily kill all the germs on our hands, it only detaches them! To detach them, we must scrub for at least 15 seconds and in all the little corners!

 

Washing our hands without water (hand sanitizer)

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, we appreciate "quick" and efficient products. Washing our hands without soap is a reasonable alternative for daycare personnel. Products conceived to wash our hands without water which contain alcohol are highly effective. The action is different. These products do not remove the germs from our hands. Instead, they kill them on the spot! These products must be kept out of children's reach. They can intoxicate children if they are ingested. Two tablespoons of these products are sufficient to intoxicate a two year old! On the other hand, once the product is evaporated (has disappeared from hands) there is no longer a risk of intoxication for children. Certain conditions must however be respected for the products to be effective.

Conditions which must be respected when using hand sanitizers in daycares:

1. They must be used only when sinks are unavailable.
2. Always supervise children during use.
3. Hands must not be visibly soiled.
4. Hands must not be wet.
5. Alternate between washing your hands with soap and hand sanitizer throughout the day.
6. The product must contain 60% alcohol or more, ideally 70%.

If you only use alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the day, it slowly loses its effectiveness because the dead germs collect on your hands! For babies? The use of hand sanitizers is not ideal. It is preferable to use soap and water. Hand sanitizers should be used only on children who are already able to wash their hands.

The forgotten ones: babies!

 

We often forget to wash babies' hands either because we feel that they do not touch many things or because they are unable to wash their hands themselves. Please make an effort to wash their hands. Their immune system is very immature and they need you to distance them from germs by remembering to wash their hands. A little trick: purchase a bottle of foaming hand soap. Replace the liquid soap with one part tearless baby shampoo for 9 parts of water. You will obtain a gentle hand soap which won't sting babies' eyes if they were to touch their face during the process of washing their hands. This potion is ideal for use while babies are learning to wash their hands.

 

The big question: is washing our hands using a facecloth or disposable wipe sufficient?

 

YES and NO. Keep in mind that it is best to use soap and water. When traditional hand washing is not possible, you can use a facecloth or disposable wipe IF AND ONLY IF they are moistened with soap and water and you scrub the child's hands vigorously. Don't forget detergent + water+ friction = detached germs!

 

What about antibacterial wipes?

 

Although they are expensive, they are a good compromise. Look closely at the ingredients. If they include benzalkonium chloride, they can be used but remember to scrub.

 

Nathalie Thibault 

Products and services offered by Germaction: Distance learning courses for caregivers, courses in classroom settings, conferences, animated workshops, ISO-BOBOS program, etc.

---

No element of this text may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, translated, downloaded, posted, or transmitted, in any way, without prior written authorization from Educatall and the copyright holder. Elements may be posted and/or downloaded solely for personal and non-commercial use provided no modifications are made and all notices of intellectual property are fully shown (name of the author, title of the article, name of the website, date the text is used and the date of the part in question).