Sharing is an important lesson for young children to learn, but
not when it comes to germs.
Children can touch and retouch over 300 surfaces in just 30
minutes, and with germs surviving on those surfaces for up to 72
hours1 one child’s germs can quickly spread to another. To
encourage healthier environments, Softsoap® BRAND liquid hand soap
and the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP)
have partnered to educate families on how to prevent the spread of
germs and illness among children.
With the average toddler catching between 6 and 8 colds a year2,
it is important for parents to teach their children to practice
healthy habits. Proper hand washing is one of the most important
preventative measures to help children avoid getting sick and
spreading illness to others. Children who wash their hands properly
at least 4 times a day experience 24 percent fewer sick days from
cold and flu, and 51 percent fewer sick days due to stomach
ailments.3
“For the parents of the nearly 15 million children enrolled in
child care centers nationwide, receiving the call that their child
is sick may be familiar,” says Bobette Thompson, President of the
National Association of Child Care Professionals. “For child care
professionals, preventing the spread of germs and illness is a top
priority in our effort to keep children healthy and happy. One of
the first things we teach our children is the proper way to wash
their hands, and more importantly, when to do so.”
Throughout the course of a day an average of 12 “hand washing
moments” occur for adults and even more for children.4 Child care
professionals are teaching children about “hand washing moments,”
such as before eating meals, and the following healthy habits:
- Refraining from touching the eyes and
mouth
- Sneezing and coughing into the inner
elbow
- Frequent, proper hand washing with soap
and water
Proper hand washing techniques include washing hands with soap
and warm water for 20 seconds, which can be a difficult feat for
children. To help teach children this practice, Softsoap® BRAND has
teamed up with the American Public Health Association (APHA) to
feature unique “Get Ready” hand washing timers that easily attach
directly to Softsoap® BRAND soap pumps. When pressed, the timers
play a fun song for 20 seconds, helping children stay engaged to
get hands clean and wash away germs.
“Proper hand washing is the best defense against spreading germs
and preventing sickness among children,” said Barry Reichgott,
Senior Brand Manger, Softsoap® Liquid Hand
Soap, Colgate-Palmolive. “Through our partnership with NACCP,
we are excited to provide nearly 10,000 day care centers across the
country with hand washing kits. These informative kits include
Softsoap® BRAND liquid hand soap, the American Public Health
Association’s “Get Ready” hand washing timers, and fun hand washing
materials to promote effective hand washing among children.”
In addition to washing hands frequently with warm water and
Softsoap® BRAND liquid hand soap, families are encouraged to
practice the following healthy habits:
- Eating a well balanced and healthy
diet: Preschool aged children should consume between 1,000 and
1,600 calories per day including fruits, vegetables, protein and
grains5
- Getting a good night’s sleep: Ten to
twelve hours per day is recommended for children ages two to
five6
- Drinking plenty of fluids: Water
quenches thirst, milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D,
and 100% juice is rich in fruits and vegetables7
- Avoid sharing food and drink with
others
For more hand washing information, tips and activities, visit
www.LatherUpForGoodHealth.com.
About Colgate-Palmolive
Company
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer Products Company
tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface
Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. In the U.S., Colgate sells its
quality products under such nationally recognized brand names as
Colgate®, Palmolive®, Mennen®, Ajax®,
Irish Spring®, Softsoap® Brand, Murphy® Oil
Soap, and Ultra Brite® , as well as Hill's® Science
Diet® and Hill's® Prescription Diet® pet
foods. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive and its
products, visit the company’s web site at www.Colgate.com.
About the National Association of Child
Care Professionals
NACCP is a professional association serving child care owners,
directors and administrators. The organization’s goal is to
strengthen and enhance the credibility of leaders in the field of
early child care and education by providing membership services and
benefits. For more information about NACCP, please visit
www.naccp.org.
About the American Public Health
Association
Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most
diverse organization of public health professionals in the world.
The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities
from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure
community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities
and preventive health services are universally accessible in the
United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers,
educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at
all levels working both within and outside governmental
organizations and educational institutions. More information is
available at www.apha.org.
1
U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 – 2008 American Community Survey. 2
“Helpful Hints for Families,” 2009,
Alliance for Consumer Education, 27 Oct 2010 .
3
“Hand-washing: What You Need to Know, Why
it’s so Important,” 2010, American Public Health Association,
October 27 2010, .
4
“H1N1 HandWashing – How Often? ‘Washable
Moments,’” 2009, Suite101.com, 27 Oct 2010 .
5
“MyPyramid Food Intake Pattern Calorie
Levels,” 2005, United States Department of Agriculture, 27 Oct 2010
<
http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/MyPyramid_Calorie_Levels.pdf>.
6
“How Much Sleep Do I Need,” 9 Sept 2010,
Centers for Disease Control and prevention, 27 Oct 2010 .
7
“Healthy Eating for Children 2 Through 5
Years Old,” 1 May 2009, Virginia State University, 27 Oct 2010
.
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