Wash the Germs Away - Girl Scouts Heart Of Central California

Date________
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Your child recently participated in the Community Health Patch Program (CHPP), facilitated by their
Troop leader(s). The lesson was created in partnership with the California Medical Association
Foundation in an effort to empower your daughter to prevent illness and share this knowledge with other
Girl Scouts, their peers, family members and seniors.
We hope that you will reinforce and help your child to practice healthy behaviors at home. Some
suggested activities are listed below:
• Ask your child about germs and how they are spread. Some germs are “good” and others are
“bad” and may cause sickness. There are two types of germs that cause most infections in the United States
– viruses and bacteria.
• Model and help your child practice proper handwashing: scrub 20 seconds with soap and
warm running water while paying attention to around the fingernails. Ask your child to
sing the handwashing song for you. It is important to wash hands after using the toilet, playing with
animals, being around sick people and before and after preparing food or before eating food.
• Ask your child to describe what influenza (flu) is and how to prevent it. Influenza is a virus
that causes fever, headaches, muscle pain or soreness, general weakness, dry cough, sore throat, and runny
nose. Make sure your child understands the importance of preventing influenza by washing hands often,
covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing and getting the influenza vaccine.
Please feel free to contact your daughter’s troop leader if you have comments or questions. We support
you as parents to instill lifelong preventative health practices in your children.
Sincerely,
Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Program Department
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