Hand Washing Curriculum Train the Trainer Model Kimberly Pelletier, Epidemiologist State of Connecticut Department of Public Health

Background: oWhile I was working for the Naugatuck Valley Health District this was a project I worked on. oThe project was funded through NVHD’s pandemic flu funding. oThe project was piloted at TEAM Inc.’s Head Start Programs. oI presented this curriculum to several hundred elementary school aged students at over 20 elementary schools, both public and parochial, in Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Seymour and Shelton.

Overview: oThe objective of this curriculum is to educate children, and teachers as well, about the importance of effective and frequent hand washing. oStudents will learn how to fight the flu by being a COOL cougher, a SAFE sneezer and a HIP handwasher.

Objectives: Activity A: Discussion on Germs Activity B: Discussion on Colds and Flu Activity C: Germs are Everywhere Activity D: Discuss Barriers to Hand Washing Activity E: Demonstrate Proper Hand Washing Activity F: How Coughs and Sneezes Spread Germs Activity G: Practice Covering a Cough or Sneeze Activity H: Demonstrate Use of Hand Sanitizer Activity I: Demonstrate Use of Hand Wipes

Activity A: Discussion on germs 1. Describe what germs are 2. Identify how germs can be spread from one person to another 3. Discuss simple ways to minimize the spread of germs

Activity B: Discussion on Colds and Flu 1. Describe some of the symptoms they may have experienced when they were ill 2. Identify that germs cause people to get sick with a cold or flu

Activity C: Germs are Everywhere 1.Describe how germs can be spread from their hands to many surfaces

Activity D: Discuss Barriers to Hand Washing 1. Identify solutions to hand washing if they don’t have access to a sink

Activity E: Demonstrate Proper Hand Washing 1.Demonstrate the correct way to wash their hands and how to be a HIP handwasher 2. Talk their way through the process, if they do not have access to a sink

Activity F: How Coughs and Sneezes Spread Germs 1. Identify how germs get on their hands 2. Describe how germs spread from their hands to other surfaces

Activity G: Practice Covering a Cough or Sneeze 1. Demonstrate how they can be a SAFE sneezer and a COOL cougher 2. Discuss what happens to the germs if they cough and sneeze into their hands

Activity H: Demonstrate Use of Hand Sanitizer 1. Describe how they can sanitize their hands without hand washing 2.Understand that sanitizers are not a replacement for hand washing

Activity I: Demonstrate Use of Hand Wipes 1.Describe how they can sanitize their hands without hand washing 2.Understand that hand wipes are not a replacement for hand washing

Posters for Use in Schools

Resources

Conclusion: For more information on how you can use this curriculum, please contact Deborah Horvath, Assistant Director of Health at the Naugatuck Valley Health District, at (203)