Show of (Clean) Hands
Nurse Offers St. Ignace Students a Lesson in Handwashing Technique
By Karen Gould

Twenty hands will soon to be germ-free as seventh grade girls scrub, rinse, and dry off as part of a health lesson. The program was presented to St. Ignace students from kindergarten through seventh grade. Seventh grade students participating Monday, May 5, included (front row, from left) Jacki Lee, Molly Paquin, Shelby Litzner, Sarah Cullip, Haley North; (back) Kayla Ray, Chauntel Oullette, Autumn Huskey, and Dorothy Chargo.

Using a Mr. Potato Head toy, some soap, water, and a black light, it didn't take long for Jodi Orm to convince seventh grade students that hand washing is the best defense against getting sick.

A registered nurse and instructor for Lake Superior State University (LSSU), Mrs. Orm of St. Ignace presented her "Sick No More" lesson to St. Ignace students from kindergarten through seventh grade. Currently completing her master's degree in nursing at LSSU, she designed the program to meet a course work requirement to develop a community focused health care plan. The lesson began Monday, May 5, in Trudy Olsen's class with Mrs. Orm asking students to pass around Mr. Potato Head. Unknown to the students, the toy was pretreated with germs that were not visible under the classroom's fluorescent lights.

At left: Sliding his hands under a black light, seventh grade student Zach Harrington gets a view of his hand washing skills. The black light indicates areas missed during washing. Registered nurse Jodi Orm brought the black light to St. Ignace Elementary School as part of a program to teach students skills to prevent the spread of germs.

The plastic figure quickly moved from one student to another and was followed by Mrs. Olsen, who carried a hand-held flashlight containing a black light.

Turning their hands from palms up to palms down, students were able to see under the light the invisible germs they had picked up by handling the toy. The lesson showed students how easily germs can spread from one person or object to another.

To help prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as the cold virus, Mrs. Orm told students, they should sneeze or cough only into the corner of their arm. To stop the spread of e coli, she said, students must wash their hands thoroughly before leaving the bathroom.

"Guess what?" she asked the class. "Believe it or not, influenza is not found in your stomach. It's a misconception and a myth we have throughout the entire world when we say 'stomach flu.' The 'flu' is for influenza, which is only found in your respiratory tract."

Influenza affects the lungs, she said, and kills 36,000 people every year. When you cough, she suggested, cough into the corner of your arm near the elbow, and not on your hand. The hand, which is where most people cough and sneeze, acts as an easy vehicle to spread the germs.

What people think of as the stomach flu, said Mrs. Orm, is usually caused from e coli. Proper hand washing after using the bathroom, and before eating and cooking, will help stop the spread of the germs.

Even though some students wash their hands before leaving the bathroom, she said, others may not. She offered them easy hand washing tips. She suggested they have paper towel ready prior to washing and use it to shut off the water faucet, which can be contaminated with germs from others. The towel also should be used to open the door, she said, and while holding it open with a foot, students should toss the towel in the trash before leaving the room.

Proper hand washing, said Mrs. Orm, includes scrubbing with soap the tops of hands, palms, and in between fingers. While washing, sing a favorite song or count, she said, to measure time to be sure the washing lasts at least 20 seconds.

"Friction is the best way to get rid of the germs," she said.

Students then headed off to the bathrooms, crowding around the sink awaiting their turn to practice hand washing skills.

Once back in the classroom, students took turns slipping their hands under a large black light. Turning their hands over, they were able to see any remaining germs. The information gleaned from the light, said Mrs. Orm, gave students a way to see how effective their washing technique was and provided them with a look at areas that might need improvement.