Hand Washing CurriculumTrain the Trainer Model

Kimberly Pelletier, Epidemiologist

State of Connecticut

Department of Public Health

Background:o While I was working

for the Naugatuck Valley Health District this was a project I worked on.

o The project was funded through NVHD’s pandemic flu funding.

o The project was piloted at TEAM Inc.’s Head Start Programs.

o I 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:o The objective of this curriculum is to educatechildren, and teachers as well, about the importanceof effective and frequent hand washing.o Students 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 manysurfaces 

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 sanitizetheir hands without hand washing2. 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) 881-3255.