Hand washing is important! | Colonial School District

Germs are everywhere! They can get onto hands and items we touch during daily activities and make us sick.

Cleaning hands at key times with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol content if soap and water are not readily available is one of the most important steps a person can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to those around you. Cleansing hands helps prevent a variety of infections because:

People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the mouth, nose, and eyes and make us sick.
Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, like handrails, tabletops, or keyboards, and then be transferred to another person’s hands.
Removing germs through handwashing therefore helps prevent diarrhea and respiratory infections and may even help prevent skin and eye infections.

Establishing a culture of hand hygiene

Daily routines for students and staff to wash hands, especially at key times like after bathroom breaks, before lunch, or after playing outside.
Providing hand sanitizers with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol content (as recommended by the CDC) for teachers, staff, and students. Hand sanitizers may be placed near frequently touched surfaces (e.g. doors, shared equipment) and areas where soap and water are not readily available (e.g., cafeterias, classrooms, gyms).
Encouraging the supervision of young children and students with special healthcare needs when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol or contact with eyes. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/hand-sanitizer-use.html

According to the Delaware Department of Education Emergency Order regarding Regulation 817 Medications and Treatments, parents/guardians are not required to provide permission for their students to use hand sanitizer but can indicate to the school that their student is unable to use hand sanitizer or needs assistance with self-use of hand sanitizer.
The Colonial’s Parent/Guardian Letter: Hand Sanitizer Opt-Out/Assistance with Self-Use is available at https://form.jotform.com/202783712849060. The letter will be sent home with students as they return to school.