Protect Caretakers and Kids From the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Basic Health And Hygiene Tips For Child Care Providers On Children's Day, June 9

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PHILADELPHIA, June 6, 1996 -- In recognition of Children's Day, June 9, child care providers can honor kids by helping to prevent sickness among the children they care for. Children in child care centers average six to eight upper respiratory illnesses and about four gastrointestinal illnesses each year. A key challenge for child care administrators is minimizing the spread of germs which are transmitted most commonly and easily by contact with dirty hands. Cheryl Gelber, Director of Liability at CIGNA Property & Casualty Loss Control Services, offers the following basic health and hygiene tips to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases:

Hand Washing

• Hands should be washed at the beginning of the day, before handling or eating food, after using the restroom, after diapering a child, and after handling other body secretions. Studies have shown that centers that require staff and children to wash their hands properly and frequently cut their incidence of gastrointestinal illnesses in half.
  
  
• It's effective to wash hands using liquid or powdered soap in a dispenser and paper towels. Using warm, running water and soap, lather both sides of hands, under fingernails, and between fingers for at least 15 seconds; rinse off all soap under running water from wrists to fingertips.
  
  
• Children and staff should dry hands with paper towels and turn off the faucet with the paper towel to avoid picking up germs on the faucet. After drying, apply hand lotion to prevent dry, cracked, or chapped hands.
  
  

Surface Cleaning & Sanitation

• Every child care center should clean and sanitize surface areas on a regular basis to help kill germs before they spread. Follow cleaning product instructions and be cautious when using ammonia and bleach.
  
  
• Sanitize surfaces with sanitizing solution diluted with the specified amount of water; prepare a fresh batch each day.
  
  
• Keep cleaning products and sanitizing solutions out of children's reach at all times.
  
  

The term ~CIGNA~ refers to subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation operating as part of CIGNA Property & Casualty and licensed to offer insurance products and services. CIGNA Corporation itself is not an insurer and does not issue policies.

CONTACT: Dina Baker of CIGNA Property & Casualty, 215-761-2201