Author Archives: Megan Hardigree

You can have whatever you like, including a gastrointestinal virus

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Visitation at Federal Correctional Complex-Forrest City (FCC-FC), Arkansas, has temporarily been suspended, according to the Times-Herald, due to inmates sickened with a “suspected gastrointestinal virus.” R.D. Weeks, executive assistant at FCC-FC explains, “The institution’s medical staff is evaluating and appropriately treating the inmates for the symptoms that appear to dissipate after 48-72 hours.” Weeks continues, “Symptomatic inmates are being tested to determine the exact virus; however, the H1N1 virus is not suspected in these cases.” In addition to visitation limitations, staff and inmates are reminded to adhere to universal precautions, which include frequent handwashing.

Rapper T.I. (Clifford Harris) is serving his jail time at FCC-FC for purchasing illegal firearms and silencers in October 2007. It is unknown if T.I. has been infected with the virus.

If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands

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If you have kids, know kids, or consider yourself a kid, singing songs may help increase handwashing. For pre-schoolers, a handwashing song, performed by the Wiggles, to the tune of “Are you sleeping” may help. Although in their music video, the Wiggles use a bowl of water to clean their hands. When washing your hands it is better to use vigorously running water to ensure biological pathogens are scrubbed away. For kids over the age of 5, another song by the Health Promotion Board, Washy Washy Clean, to the tune of “If you’re happy and you know it” may be more appropriate. I am happy and I know it when people of all ages wash their hands.

Babies need clean hands, too.

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BarfBloggers and others have stressed the importance to wash hands time after time (no, not just the Cindi Lauper song; although it is my favorite in the movie Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, dance included). It is essential to wash your hands before and after using the bathroom, before and after handling food (which includes eating), and when gardening or playing in dirt.

Amy and Sorenne were playing in the herb garden this afternoon. When they had finished, Amy brought Sorenne into the bathroom and washed both of their hands (shown below). It is especially important to wash a baby’s hands, since they typically put their hands in their mouth and can’t wash on their own. Don’t eat poop goes for people of all ages, including babies.

Handwashing is top safety precaution at Lakeland Community Hospital

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In Niles, Michigan, fourteen children, ages 8-10, attended the annual Lakeland Community Hospital’s ‘Take Your Child to Work Day.’ The primary lesson of the tour was emphasizing the hospitals’ top safety precaution: handwashing. JoEllen Gamso, RN, said, “The goal for the event was to identify the many ways that patient and associate safety is maintained in the workplace.” Before and after each department tour, every child was given a golf ball sized amount of hand-sanitizing foam to demonstrate the importance of clean hands.

H1N1=wash your hands

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Doug introduced me to Google Alerts a few weeks ago and my email inbox hasn’t been the same since. I get approximately 50-100 email hits on handwashing everyday. Most of them are relevant to washing hands, but some are about handwashing clothes and dishes.

The reason for sharing my numerous emails: wash your hands.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently announced raising the alert level to phase 6, the pandemic phase. The severity of the virus, H1N1, is moderate, claims the WHO. Across the world there are newly suspected cases of so-called swine flu. In the US alone, there have been 17,800 confirmed cases, 1600 hospitalized, and 44 deaths; all are attributed to H1N1 flu.

Every reported case in the news or other blogs is typically accompanied with a campaign for their readers to wash their hands. I, of course, couldn’t pass up the opportunity to inform BarfBlog readers to do the same.

Handwashing can reduce sickness by an estimated 25%. Hands should be washed before and after handling food, using the bathroom, coughing, sneezing, and blowing ones nose. Also, people should avoid touching their face (eyes, nose, and mouth) to reduce their risk.

Handwashing at Local Hospital

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My knowledge of foreign languages is limited to high school Spanish and learning while traveling. Thankfully, I have Amy, who translated all these French words into English, so I could understand what I was reading (and French-bites correspondent, Albert Amgar, who sent the story in the first place).

At Local Hospital of Penne-D’Agenais, France, Tuesday, June 16 was dedicated to handwashing. Representatives across all hospital services contributed in the “Clean Hands = Saved Lives” campaign. This included taking a training class, informing the public on handwashing, how handwashing contributes in reducing the risk of germs and soiling, and that handwashing reduces cross-contamination between people and objects. Handwashing is also suggested for the prevention of infectious disease spreading and foodborne illness [don’t eat poop].

Hands should be washed before and after handling food, after using the toilet or changing a diaper, and when taking care of others. Proper handwashing includes using soap, rubbing hands together fiercely, and drying with a paper towel.

Obama’s administration suggests handwashing in schools

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The Obama administration submitted an emergency war-spending bill this week, which includes flu prevention funds.

The White House sent a letter to every public school superintendent that outlines how to cope with expected increases in outbreaks of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) this fall. The letter was co-authored by Education Secretary, Arne Duncan, and Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius. The purpose of the letter urges local school officials to spend this summer developing better policies for handwashing, food service, sick students, and other health safety issues.

The letter reads: “Our hope is that the summer months can be used to develop and share a coordinated public health strategy that aims to protect our children and families and minimize disruptions.”

Handwashing is the primary means to stop the spread of the H1N1 virus, along with many other infectious diseases. Increasing handwashing compliance in schools can be accomplished with informing teachers and students on why it is important, having posters or other media around to influence behavior, and to stress handwashing to teachers (monkey see, monkey do).

Singing songs of handwashing

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Children’s Memorial Hospital and the Chicago Children’s Choir are teaming up to record a handwashing song. Chicago native Joel Frankel wrote the song, “Wash, Rinse Dry.” The singers will record at SPACE Recording Studio in Evanston. The song and video will be used for patient and staff education. And don’t forget, JJ the puppet will be joining the singers during the recording session.

I’m a big kid now; but, I need to wash my hands

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While watching Speidi on the View today, I saw a Huggies Pull-ups commercial about potty training. The mom in the commercial mentioned the need for her daughter to be potty trained before they go on a vacation. She goes further in mentioning all the supplies needed to teach potty training to her daughter: the child-sized toilet, the magic wand (an incentive for her princess of a daughter), and toilet paper. The mom failed to mention any sort of handwashing, whether it is with soap and water (preferred method after using the toilet) or alcohol hand sanitizing rub.

Other potty training tips can be found on the pull-ups website. These items include blogs for parents, DVDs, child incentives, and many others.

Researchers say that handwashing is learned during toilet training. Please, don’t eat poop, wash your hands.