Handwashing Guidelines for Staff & Children
Handwashing:
All children and staff should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds at the following times:
Arrival to the facility
Before and after preparing meals
Before and after eating or handling food
Before or after diapering or bathroom support
Before and after administering medication or medical ointment
After coming in contact with bodily fluid
After coughing, sneezing, blowing nose
After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom
After playing outdoors
After handling trash
Sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol will be used if soap and water are not readily available. Children will be supervised when they use hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion. Teachers will provide assistance for children with handwashing. After assisting children with handwashing, staff will also wash their own hands. Visual reminders of proper hand washing technique and steps will be present in classrooms near sinks and activities will be maintained such as singing songs (such as Twinkle,twinkle- 20 seconds) with children to support best practice. Teachers will be supported and reminded to adhere to these hand washing guidelines.
Developmentally appropriate posters in multiple languages are available from CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/posters.html
