H1N1 virus (swine flu) is back again
and it can be prevented with Manners! Yes,
simple everyday manners like- covering your mouth while coughing or sneezing
will
help reduce the risk of swine flu and
by practicing the most important manners – toilet
manners!
Just
like there are table manners and phone manners, similarly there are toilet
manners!
And
it is these manners that we need to cultivate in kids if we want them to be
hale,
hearty
and healthy all their life.
What are toilet manners?
Simple,
everyday acts that will help us reduce the health risk to ourselves and others,
they
are-
- Always
flush after use.
- Wash
your hands after using the toilet, you have touched things like the door,
lock, flush handle, so wash hands.
- Teach
little boys how to use the western commode without sprinkling and little
girls how to use it without squatting on it with their feet on the seat!
- Washing
hands with soap is better than just with water.
Toilet hygiene is very
important as
• Many
germs are found in toilets.
• The
germs grow and spread in dirty toilets causing the spread of diseases.
• Clean
toilets prevent this health hazard.
So what is hygiene? Did you know
that the term "hygiene" is derived from Hygeia, the
Greek goddess of health, cleanliness,
and sanitation?
Teach
children a small song that they can hum every time they wash their hands, this
song
will help them have fun while washing hands and will remind them about
thoroughly
washing for hygiene reasons-
Wash
your hands- (tune of row, row, row your boat):
Wash wash wash your hands wash them
all around
See that all the germs and dirt are
washed all out
Scrub, scrub, scrub your hands, scrub
them all around
See that all the germs and dirt and
washed all out
Rub, rub, rub the soap, rub it nice
and slow
Find, find, find the germs, and find
them all fast, fast
Between the fingers, on the thumb, see
they do not last.
Rinse, rinse, rinse, your hands
Rinse them out with water
Dry, dry, dry your hands, dry them on
a napkin.
Clean, clean clean hands is what you
have now,
So remember to always wash your hands
So that everyone can say vow!
So
when we help kids do the above we keep our kids safe, hygienic and healthy, so
let’s fight all diseases, including swine flu by bringing manners back in fashion.
Watch our special Swacch Bharat video
and spread it to more children, parents and schools.
This
article is written by Dr. Swati Popat Vats, President Early Childhood
Association and Podar Education Network.
