Germy Wormy protective sleeves help teach kids to cough into their elbows
The Swine Flu/H1N1 virus is expected to infect 30-50% of the United States population this fall and winter. And a study in the Wall Street Journal indicates that children are 14 times more likely to get the Swine Flu than the elderly. The study shows that children are at a "disproportionate risk for infection and hospitalization."
As of August 19, 2009, the death toll in Utah due to Swine Flu infections was 17 with 300 hospitalizations. The return to school raises the risk of infection among kids, and those infections will be spread to family members at home as well, who in turn may spread it to their workplace.
One of the biggest reasons children are becoming infected with H1N1/Swine Flu (and other illnesses) is their lack of proper education in washing hands, covering their mouths when coughing or sneezing, and being kept home (and away from other children) when they are ill.
One way to teach your kids about germs, and the importance of good hygiene, is through a program called "Germy Wormy Germ Smart for Kids."
Given that a young child can touch over 300 surfaces in 1/2 hour and they don't like to wash their hands, the worst place for them to cough and sneeze is their hands. That is a guarantee that the germs will be spread faster than light and soon get everyone around the child sick.
The site also suggests having kids cough or sneeze into their elbow because it is always there (unlike a tissue) and it is hard for kids to touch other surfaces with the inside of their elbows. Germy Wormy also has disposable sleeves that have a picture of Germy Wormy on them. Kids are encouraged to feed Germy Wormy all of their germs by coughing or sneezing into the sleeve, which is placed over their elbow. Kids get into the healthy habit of coughing or sneezing into their elbow, and the sleeve is easily thrown away. The company claims that their customers report a 50% reduction in cases of colds and flus in children and others around them.
Teaching kids proper hygiene, as well as keeping them home when they are sick, will reduce the outbreak of Swine Flu, as well as the seasonal flu, this fall and winter.
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Comments
But all we're telling everyone is to wash your hands on a regular basis and don't share snacks with other kids.
Not a Dr...if kids would actually wash their hands more, as well as adults, the rate of infection would decline. Other tips, like the ones mentioned in this article, are also ways to stop it.
Great article. A lot of people have their children sneeze into the crook of their arm or elswhere on their shirt. This is not a good practice. By doing this, you risk the spread of germs because children roll around and rub up against things.
Covering their mouths is important. As a home child care provider, I do a few things every morning and afternoon: I run around disinfecting faucet handles, light switches and doorknobs, as well as the phone, appliance and electronics handles, during flu season.
shannon-- The national director of health and human services was on the Today show this morning, and she suggested the "coughing into the elbow" trick as a great practice for EVERYONE, especially kids. I figure she should know better than anyone else.
Great teaching tool! I know because my daughter learned it at her pre-school. The kids were just mesmerized by the video, and had so much fun with the disposable sleeves.
I have always taught my son to sneeze into his elbow, it is the safest place to do so. Of course, if possible I have him sneeze into a tissue, but it isn't always easy to catch a sneeze when your child is playing!
I hope they develop a vaccine soon that will prevent the spread of this disease.
its easy.... dont kiss pigs, or any animal for that matter... other than your puppy!!!
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