Germs Germs

Marion County Cooperative Extension office Expanded Food and Nutrition Program recently partnered with one of the local elementary schools. The elementary school had some concerns about how quick the children were getting sick (being only a few weeks into school) and how easily viruses such as the stomach bug, strep throat and other various illnesses are spread. The school was wanting a program that focused on proper handwashing techniques because they wanted their students to be more aware of and implement proper hand hygiene practices while they are at school to help prevent the spread of germs.

When the school contacted me we set up a date and provided the program to the entire student body, which is composed of about 300 students. Each class was taught a 30-minute program composed on the Why’s, When, What and How to wash your hands properly. In conjunction with my lesson, I brought my Purple Glitter Bug to help aide in my delivery of the subject. The Purple Glitter Bug is a plastic bug’s head that contains a black light in the middle and the children are able to view the “germs” inside. The fake “germs” come from a lotion that is rubbed in like regular lotion but is only able to be viewed under a black light. The children are instructed to rub in the lotion, then view it under the black light in the purple glitter bug, then they go to the restroom to wash their hands properly for 30 seconds and then return to view how well they did by sticking their hands under the black light of the Glitter bug. The “germs” should not be visible if they properly washed their hands.

Since this program has taken place, the school has reported that students have been more aware of the germs on their hands and have been adamant on washing their hands each day and that the spread of illnesses have decreased. This is a very good program that is very useful in all of the local schools.