Parish schools to get hands-on look at how to wash

With the new coronavirus, COVID-19, continuing to spread across the U.S. and the globe, Lincoln Parish school nurses are attempting to get ahead of the game by educating students about the importance of proper handwashing.

The school district recently purchased a “Glitterbug” handwashing teaching kit that uses ultraviolet light to illustrate the germs that can remain on hands when not thoroughly washed.

“Because of what’s going on with COVID-19, we want to make sure all the kids understand how easily germs are spread and encourage them to wash their hands properly for 20 seconds,” LP Schools lead nurse Renee Skipper said. “We’re trying to make it fun and scientific at the same time.”

Starting next week, the Glitterbug will travel to each elementary school in the parish. Students will rub a special “potion” into their hands that glows under the UV light. Students will shake hands with one another to show how easily germs can spread, and then wash their hands and go back under the light to see how well they did at eliminating the substance.

“I think by making it interesting and fun, the kids remember it,” Skipper said. “They’ll remember seeing their hands glow. If we make it fun for them, it’ll be a lasting effect and help them to remember to wash their hands when they go to the bathroom.”

While the coronavirus had crossed the 100,000 mark of total infections worldwide, including penetrating Texas earlier this week, there were no confirmed cases in Louisiana as of Friday afternoon. All the same, proper handwashing is also a key factor in preventing the spread of the flu and colds, so Skipper said whether the new virus comes to the area or not, the lessons are important to learn.

“The (Centers for Disease Control) has asked for school systems to make sure we’re doing proper hand washing,” she said. “If we don’t wash our hands, then we can spread cold and flu symptoms. COVID-19 is really spreading the same way flu does, and we need to treat it that way.”

Skipper originally borrowed a Glitterbug machine from Louisiana Tech University’s nursing program in December of 2019 and tried it out with fourth and fifth grade students at Dubach School. When the students responded well, she made plans for the district to purchase its own machine for the whole parish to use. The kit and refills of the potion cost less than $300 all told.

Those plans were first made to address the on-set of flu season, before news of the coronavirus began circulating. Skipper said the coincidental outbreak of coronavirus simply made proper hand-washing that much more important.

Experts recommend washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, or the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Skipper said students should be taught to wash before eating, after using the bathroom, and any time their hands are soiled. Hand sanitizer can be used between these times when needed.

“I have children, and they’re in a hurry,” she said. “They don’t want to stay in the bathroom and wash their hands. That’s why we’re teaching them at an early age how easy it is to spread germs.”