Colorado State University Extension
SafeFood Rapid Response Network
SAFEFOOD NEWS - Summer 2002 - Vol 6, No. 4
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Spotlight on Handwashing Efforts in Colorado Elementary Schools
In 1998 an advisory group was formed to discuss the need for a handwashing program to be delivered to elementary schools in Colorado. Initial meetings raised the group's awareness that children did not always know when they should wash their hands, and resources they needed to wash their hands were not always available in the schools. The advisory group had representation from Boulder County Health Department, Boulder Valley School District Nutrition Services, Boulder County Extension, Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Department of Agriculture, CSU Extension, and elementary school teachers from Boulder and Larimer counties.
The advisory group made the following recommendations:
- Review handwashing programs already available and consider them in the development of a short, one-shot presentation.
- Develop an evaluation tool that would measure change in children's awareness, rather than change in behavior related to handwashing.
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Initially pilot the program with kindergartners and first-graders.
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Eventually train volunteers to deliver the program in schools.
A program entitled Fight BAC with Hand Washing was developed after reviewing the new Fight BAC materials available, observing a handwashing program being presented in Boulder county daycare centers and reviewing educational products and materials available from the Brevis Corporation. The 45 minute Fight BAC with Hand Washing program included: a discussion about bacteria; role playing steps for handwashing; washing hands and viewing them under a UV light; a coloring book activity (which reinforced when children should wash their hands); and a visit from the BAC hand puppet! A pre-post pictorial quiz was used to evaluate change in awareness of when children should wash their hands.
During the Spring and Fall of 1998, the Fight BAC with Hand Washing program was presented to a total of 165 children (80 kindergartners & 85 first-graders) from Boulder and Larimer counties. The kindergartners showed an 11.5% increase in awareness as to when they needed to wash their hands after participating in the activity. The first-graders showed an 8.5% increase in awareness after participating.
El Paso County Extension took the project through completion by training Master Food Preserver volunteers to provide Project Handwashing to elementary school students. The initial program, Fight BAC with Hand Washing, was modified to include options of different activities that would be more age appropriate for the 4-6 graders and additional activities to choose from for the K-3 graders.
Sheila Ryan, CSU Extension agent in El Paso County Extension, will begin her third year of training food safety volunteers to provide the Project Handwashing program. A curriculum kit has been prepared for the volunteers to check out that includes a leader's guide and all the necessary materials needed to teach the classes. In the last two years, 9 volunteers have presented the program to 35 elementary school classes.
The program has also been delivered to one 4-H club as well as finding its way to a Catholic school in Belize, where it was presented to approximately 400 children. One of Sheila's volunteers is a nurse who travels annually with her husband to San Pedro, Belize, to provide care to children. In all, this group of volunteers has provided the class to approximately1,000 youth in the last two years.
Results from matchable pre/post pictorial survey data collected from 1998 through 2001 on 352 youth representing 3 Colorado counties (Boulder, El Paso and Larimer), grades K-5, found a significant increase in awareness. Overall awareness about when to wash their hands increased from an average pre-class score of 77% to 83% post presentation(p<.0001). There was no significant difference in change in awareness by grade or by school, suggesting a universal significant increase in awareness occurred and emphasizing the importance of providing a standard curriculum and training when several instructors are utilized.
For additional information on Project Handwashing, contact Sheila Ryan at El Paso County Extension, (719) 636-8920.
Updated Monday, August 29, 2011
