Wash the Germs Away - Girl Scouts Heart Of Central California

4. Discussion: Handwashing
A. Ask the girls the following question:
Can somebody describe what you do when you wash your hands? (Allow a few girls to share their handwashing technique.)
Explain: The best way to wash your hands to get rid of the bad germs is with soap and water. It is important to wash your
hands the right way because even if your hands look clean, there still may be some bad germs on them. Remember, germs
are so small that we cannot see them with our eyes.
B. Show the girls a bottle of regular soap and of instant hand sanitizer gel.
C. Ask the girls the following question:
Have you seen instant hand sanitizer gel before?
When do you use it? (Allow a few girls to share.)
Explain: Hand sanitizer gel can be used as an alternative when soap and water are not immediately available.
Germs on your hands do not always make you sick. There are both good and bad germs. You can get sick if the
bad germs from your hands get inside your body through your mouth, nose, or eyes. If your immune system
cannot fight them off, then you will start to feel sick. It is important that you do not touch your face, stick your fingers
in your mouth or nose, or rub your eyes too often. If you have too, wash your hands!
Expanding Vocabulary: Write on the board and review the term “sanitizer.”
D. When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
• Apply product to the palm of one hand
• Rub hands together
• Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.
E. Handwashing (Review the steps)
• Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if available.
• Rub hands together to make bubbles on all sides of your hands and fingers.
(There are four sides: front, back, left and right.)
• Rub your hands for 20 seconds. You can sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.
• Rinse your hands to get the soap off.
• Dry your hands using a paper towel or hand dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Reminder: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel to clean hands.
F. Ask the girls the following question: When should you wash your hands?
• Before preparing or eating food
• After going to the bathroom
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
• Before and after tending to someone who is sick
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
• After handling an animal or animal waste
• After handling garbage
• Before and after treating a cut or wound
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