Michael Tannebaum

Chris Plummer, a fourth grade teacher at Newington Elementary, educates his class on the importance of good hand washing habits.

Michael Tannebaum

Between classes, fourth grader Joey Harth washes his hands at one of Newington Elementary’s many hand washing stations. By each station is a sign that shows the kids how to properly wash their hands.

Joey Harth, a fourth grader at Newington Elementary School, knows keeping his hands clean is essential. “I wash my hands to make sure I don’t get sick,” says Harth.

“And I also wash them so that when I give someone a ‘high five,’ they won’t get sick either.”

While Harth understands the importance of keeping his hands clean, many children do not – something the Hospital Corporation of America hopes to change. The HCA recently launched “Clean Hands Are Cool Hands,” a nationwide campaign aimed at educating children about the importance of hand cleanliness as a tool to prevent the spread of germs. Television star Mitchel Musso, who plays Oliver Oken in Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana,” is the face of the campaign.

“We’re really embracing the campaign and making sure the kids wash their hands properly,” said Newington fourth grade teacher, Chris Plummer. “Each and every day we stress to the kids the importance of hand cleanliness.”

While the campaign is designed to promote good hand hygiene in general, it is specifically designed to reduce the spread of MRSA in schools. MRSA is a type of staph infection that is both common and highly contagious.

MRSA, which first emerged about 25 years ago, usually manifests itself as a skin infection such as a pimple. Initially thought to be prevalent almost exclusively in hospital patients, MRSA is now more widespread in the general population. “It’s becoming more and more common in children of all ages, even in infants,” said Susan Dellasperanza, Infection Control Practitioner at Summerville Medical Center. “We’re seeing babies just three months old coming in with MRSA.”

Hopes are high that “Clean Hands Are Cool Hands” will reduce the spread of MRSA in schools across the country.

“This campaign is wonderful because it has a star that our kids love,” said Ellen Burns, school nurse at Newington. “I cannot tell you how many “Hannah Montana” bags and T-shirts I see around the school. It really is a great campaign.”

Parents, teachers, and children can visit www.cleanhandsarecoolhands.com for fun, creative ways to learn about MRSA and how to prevent its spread.

Contact Michael Tannebaum at 873-9424 ext. 215 or mtannebaum@journalscene.com

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