Clean Hands Keep Kids (and Adults) Healthy

Parents have been reminding their kids to wash their hands for — well, forever. In 2020, this call got real. Parents, schools and teachers were hyper-focused on hygiene — and for good reason — as the COVID-19 pandemic waged on and we prepared for another cold and flu season.

That’s why Safeguard, a brand that has been providing germ protection for more than 50 years, partnered with Instructure, the makers of the Canvas Learning Management System, to provide schools nationwide with free handwashing education and products. Together, they’re working to help the entire village — schools, teachers, kids and parents — by offering fun and practical lessons on how clean hands can keep families healthy.

“This is a stressful time for many as young children return to school,” said Freddy Bharucha, P&G’s senior vice president of North America & Global Personal Care. “Which is why now ¬— and always — we are dedicated to providing hand hygiene products that meet all efficacy and safety standards.”

Over the past 10 years, Safeguard has been creative about teaching kids proper handwashing techniques in 15 countries, reaching nearly 100 million children. Outside the U.S., the brand runs a cartoon series, “Commander Safeguard,” which reinforces good handwashing behavior and averages three million YouTube viewers on some episodes.

This partnership is innovative, too. The Canvas Learning Management System serves as a virtual classroom where teachers and students can create, store, share and communicate. “By putting hygiene-focused lesson content on Canvas, Safeguard can help schools across the country in a national effort to educate and protect families this fall and winter,” said Tara Gunther, vice president of partnerships at Instructure.

Through a series of four lesson plans (in subjects of math, science, reading and writing), a bilingual (English/Spanish) digital activity book and three videos, kids get a glimpse into what germs are and learn how and why we wash our hands. The curriculum was co-created with elementary school teachers and Sourcebooks to ensure the content is both engaging and effective for students.

"As a first-grade teacher, I know that learning takes repetition and the earlier we can teach students proper handwashing techniques, the more likely children will adopt good hand hygiene as everyday habits,” said Fernanda Sandoval, first-grade teacher and founder of One Happy Classroom.

To amplify the program, the brand has relaunched their #SafeguardSplash social media challenge. It’s a crucial reminder, across generations, of the importance of washing hands properly — and often — to safeguard loved ones.

This latest kid- and family-focused initiative follows Safeguard’s recent $10 million donation in product and education resources through organizations including Save the Children, Feeding America and Americares.

Not only has the brand promoted handwashing habits among kids and provided underserved communities with free hygiene products, but it has also worked to ensure our front-line workers are equipped with the hand sanitizer they need to continue working safely and to stay healthy during COVID-19.

We know that more than 10 million germs live on our hands. The CDC has advised that handwashing and proper hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to prevent the spread of the virus. And in fact, handwashing can reduce the risk of respiratory infections by 16%. With a few simple reminders, you can help keep your kids and your family healthy during sick season.

#1 Wash your hands. Remember to wash:

• Before eating
• After playing
• After sneezing or coughing
• After handling pets
• After using the toilet

#2 Wash your hands properly. Follow these five steps:

1. Wet hands under clean running water.
2. Use Safeguard soap to create lather on hands.
3. Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds (rub palms together, scrub the back of hands, between the fingers and under the fingernails).
4. Rinse hands with clean water.
5. Completely dry hands with a clean towel.

#3 Make handwashing fun. Sing your favorite tune as you wash. Do the #SafeguardSplash.

Teachers: Here’s How You Can Get the Materials To download the plans from Canvas, visit here. For teachers without Canvas access, the curriculum can be found on www.safeguardstudents.com.