During the flu season or times of widespread illness, handwashing is one of the primary ways to protect yourself against getting sick. It’s especially important if your child attends a day care or preschool center, where they come into contact with other children and people. Below is a guide to how handwashing fights germs.

How Does Soap Get Rid of Germs?

Scrubbing your toddler’s hands for at least twenty seconds with soap will effectively take care of any germs, bacteria, and viruses that are present. Soap has pin-shaped molecules with sharp tails, which break through germs’ protective barriers, neutralizing most bacteria and viruses.

The tails also trap germs to lift them away from your skin, while the heads bond with water. When you rinse your hands off after scrubbing, the germy soap molecules are washed down the sink, leaving your hands virtually germ-free.

Why Is Handwashing So Vital?

The flu spreads through droplets that are released when a sick person sneezes or coughs, which can land on surfaces that become a point of infection for others. For the germs to actually make you sick, though, they have to come into contact with your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Regular handwashing minimizes the germs on your hands and the risk of spreading harmful ones to your face where they can make you sick. It also lowers the risk of you spreading the flu to other people and surfaces, as you can be contagious but not show symptoms for roughly 24 hours at the beginning of the illness. 

In places like day care and preschool centers, doing anything to reduce the chance of an illness outbreak is critical. At child care centers, children play together and share toys and resources, and because they may struggle with hygiene and tend to put items in their mouths, they’re at high risk for spreading illness among themselves.

Regular handwashing done by the children, parents, and educators at home and at their day care can greatly reduce illness by limiting the spread of germs between people. According to the CDC, in environments where proper handwashing was taught, instances of respiratory illnesses dropped by up to 21%. 

Are you searching for a day care center that maintains a healthy and clean facility? Kids & Cribs Child Enrichment Center in Fort Thomas, KY, has been a top choice for child care and education programs in the area since 1989. With an individualized approach, they create learning activities based around your child’s behaviors and needs, and their instructors are professional and vetted. Learn more about what sets them apart online and call (859) 441-5888 to get a tour today.