Germ City: Clean Hands and Healthy People By Donnie Cook. Ph.D.

In 2000, the American Society of Microbiology's Clean Hands Campaign released the results of a survey and observational study on hand washing. Their findings revealed that although 95% of men and women stated that they washed their hands after using a public restroom, only 67% actually do wash their hands prior to leaving a restroom. Hand washing is one of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and could even save thousands of lives. However, many Americans still don't get it!

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 79 million people in the U.S. become ill yearly as a result of food-related diseases and approximately 5,000 people die. Poor hygiene or improperly washed hands is the greatest contributor of food-related outbreaks.

The CDC cites five common ways in which diseases are transmitted in the home:

1. Hands to food--when the person preparing the food fails to their wash hands after leaving the bathroom.
2. Infected infant to hands to other children--when a parent changes an infected infant's diaper and then interacts with other children without washing hands.
3. Food to hands to food--when an individual carries germs from uncooked food to other foods such as meats and salads.
4. Nose, mouth or eyes to hands, then to others--such as in the case of colds, eye infections, etc. where hand contact is made through sneezing, coughing or rubbing the eyes and no hand washing has occurred.
5. Food to hands to infant--when germs from uncooked food are transferred to hands and then to infants.

In each case, hand washing, i.e., rigorous scrubbing with warm, soapy water for at least 15 seconds, can prevent the spread of germs. Extension educators across the nation are also teaching germ prevention measures through hand washing. In fact, they're making it fun!

Germ City is an interactive and scientific-based exhibit that increases the awareness of the consequences of poor hand washing. How does it work? While a catchy tune is playing, children are asked to cover their hands with a non-toxic lotion that glows under black lights. After one trip through Germ City, a long black tunnel filled with glow-in-the-dark streamers and objects, kids are then asked to wash their hands to see if there is a trace of the germs they may have missed. Extension educators at Utah State have actually documented the reduction of Hepatitis and Salmonella cases. And now, Germ City is available in Alabama through a three-year multistate agreement with Alabama A&M University, the University of Hawaii, Washington State University and West Virginia University. The project is being funded by the USDA.

Germ City is designed for young children age 3 and up, and will be used in elementary and middle schools, at health fairs, and Extension activities such as Farm Day and 4-H events. To date, Alabama Extension agents have used Germ City in Baldwin, Chilton, Crenshaw, Madison, Mobile, and Montgomery counties, resulting in over 3000 youth and adults learning how to properly wash their hands.

From September through October 2002, Germ City will be utilized in Autauga, Colbert, Hale, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan and Pike counties. The Germ City unit is available for use by Extension personnel and other health educators. Why not utilize this unique tool to promote clean hands and healthy people in your area. For more information and availability, please e-mail Dr. Donnie Cook at dcook@aces.edu or call 256-858- 4983.