The Healthy Schools Project* in Action at CA School for the Deaf

By: Briana Smith  |  May 8, 2014

On Friday, April 18, 2014 WAXIE Sanitary Maintenance Consultant, Remy Meehan, accompanied a couple of Kimberly-Clark Professional* trainers, Elisa Huang & Brian Boll, to the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, CA to educate the students & staff on the importance of handwashing. Kimberly-Clark Professional* developed The Healthy Schools Project* in order to help students understand germ transmission & how they can stay healthier in school and at home. Its key components focus around reminding students (as well as teachers, administrators & staff) to wash, wipe & sanitize.

California School for the Deaf has roughly 430 students ranging from 6 year olds to 18 year high schoolers. Students were broken up by age group into different 45 minute sessions with someone available to facilitate The Healthy Schools Project* instructors by signing information as needed to the students. Each session began with a short presentation, but quickly moved into more interactive activities where the students could directly participate.

One activity showed germ transmission from someone’s hands to various surfaces. This was demonstrated by squirting something easily visible onto a student’s hands and then later showing all of the surfaces that were touched. The activity that got the most reaction was figuring out how many germs were on their teacher’s cell phone using a swab to test the count right then and there. Most of the students were surprised by how high the germ count was causing many to make “ewwwwww” faces. Talk about a good reminder to disinfect your cell phone often!

The Kimberly-Clark Professional* trainers used these examples to then discuss germ hot spots, which tend to be the most contaminated surfaces in schools as they are the surfaces touched the most frequently by the most amount of people. Germ hot spots include: door handles, desks, bathroom stall locks, computer mice, etc. The focus was also placed on when hands need to be washed, such as after using the restroom, before eating, etc.

These activities helped to reinforce the need to hand wash often following the HYGIENIFY!* wash, wipe, sanitize protocol. Before attending one of The Healthy Schools Project* sessions, many students didn’t realize exactly how easy it is for germs to spread and cause illness. At the end of each session, the students wrote down what they had learned & which activities stood out the most.

The great thing about The Healthy Schools Project* is that teachers can follow-up with additional lesson plans specific to each age group focusing on various aspects of handwashing and germ transmission. Studies show that only 58% of female and 48% of male high school students wash their hands after using the bathroom. That’s definitely something that should be improved upon and awareness is the key.

We’d like to thank the California School for the Deaf for implementing The Healthy Schools Project* at their school. Healthy students lead to healthy schools where teachers can focus on educating and not on illness. Any school or university can implement The Healthy Schools Project*, just contact us and we’ll help you get started.

For more information on how to “Flunk the Germs!” check out The Healthy Schools Project*.

READ MORE:
12th Annual National Healthy Schools Day: April 8th
Flunk the Germs
Global Handwashing Day & Hand Hygiene Education
Hand Hygiene Is As Easy As 1-2-3
School Is In Session, So Are Germs