Hand-washing proves to be an eye-opener for kids

ARLINGTON — Their fingernails didn't get clean.

A group of second-graders at Pioneer Elementary School were shocked to find out Tuesday that, despite vigorously washing their hands for the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” out loud, their skills are lacking.

A germ-busting team from Cascade Valley Hospital is touring all the elementary schools in Arlington this week hoping to convince nearly 2,000 students that they can help prevent illness during the coming cold and flu season.

In their hand-washing session, class buddies Denki Lissa and Thanh Vu, both 7, had their hands sprayed with a solution of fake germs. Then they placed their hands into a black-light machine. In the illumination of the strange light, it was clear that their palms and fingers were covered with gross goo.

Next, Denki and Thanh followed the six steps of good hand-washing: wet, soap, wash, rinse, dry and use your paper towel to turn off the water.

Then the boys stuck their hands back into the black light for a check.

Uh, oh.

The fluorescent fake germs were clinging to their cuticles and the underside of their fingernails.

“You have to wash really hard so you don't get serious diseases,” Thanh said.

“You have to get rid of the germs or more might come back,” Denki added.

Hospital community relations director Kelly Penny and Arlington School District nurse Christine Bassford have joined forces to talk about why hand washing is so important.

“We don't want you to get sick and we don't want others to get sick,” Penny told the kids. “If I cough into my hand and then reach out to shake your hand, do you want to take it? If my hands are dirty and I reach for the doorknob, do you want to touch it?”

Shaking their heads “no,” classmates Alexia Price, Carli DeRoun and Ava Iverson also demonstrated how to cough into their elbows. That's the best place to cough, Penny said, because people don't greet each other with the inside of their arms.

Hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes are basic skills, but their importance can't be stressed enough, Penny said.

“Germs are revolting,” she said.

The germ busters encouraged the students to go home and talk to their families about proper hand washing.

“Showing adults their washed hands under the black light is pretty fun, too,” Penny said. “Especially the fussy people. Everybody can do better.”

For those who do get sick, health officials believe people should stay home when they have a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat and a new cough. People should remain at home for at least 24 hours after the fever and other symptoms are gone.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.