HAND WASHING AND CHILDREN

Proper Hand Washing For Preschool Children

Proper Hand Washing For Preschool Children

Introduction

Hand-washing has been recognized as one way to manage the spread of infectious disease in neonatal care units, critical care units, adult care homes, and child care centers. Research conducted in child care has found that (a) caregivers lack information concerning infectious disease, and (b) young children lack the knowledge and skills in hand-washing necessary to maintain maximum hygienic practices (Kolanz, and Stapleton, 2006).

Main Concern

Consequently young children, particularly those younger than 6 years of age who are cared for in centers, are at risk for a variety of infections including diarrhea1 disease (The most inexpensive way to good health, 2009).

Health Related Problems and Risk

Specifically, having children in diapers at day care, gathering together large numbers of children and adults, thereby increasing everyone's exposure to infection, repeated person-toperson contact, children's frequent explorations with their mouths, the spread of respiratory secretions, and young children's immature immune systems all appear to relate to risk of infections.

Children in center care are 18 times more likely to contract pathogens than children who stay at home (Chobra, & MacCormack, 2007). Young children come into view to be at risk for obtaining as well as transmitting germs that are infectious by the fecal-oral course.

Effect on Population

In the year 1992, Larson and colleagues found that transmission of infectious disease is reduced, especially infections that are spread through fecal-oral and respiratory routes, when frequent hand-washing procedures are implemented. For this goal to be met guidelines and policies have been suggested from various health and safety handbooks written specifically for the child care environment (Kolanz, and Stapleton, 2006).

Effect on Environment

These guidelines and policies exceed minimal state licensing regulations. There should be hand-washing sinks with warm running water and soap for every 10 ...