Shelbyville Times-Gazette: Local News: Wash those hands! School kids fight disease with good hygiene (09/15/09)

Thomas Richardson washes his hands Monday following registered nurse Dee Crabtree's presentation to pre-K children about preventing the spread of germs.
(Submitted photo)

Bedford County kids are getting a head start on battling illness and the spread of germs.

Dee Crabtree, who is also the director of Bedford County school nurses, squeezes a special product on ZyQuan Curtis' hands. When used with a black light, Glo Germ will show how well a person is washing their hands.
(Submitted photo)

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Dee Crabtree, registered nurse and director of Bedford County school nurses, is traveling the county teaching young children the importance of washing their hands -- and washing them properly.

Crabtree has gotten a jump start on the program this year.

"We try to teach hand washing classes every year around flu season but with the recent H1N1 flu we decided to go ahead and start these classes early," Crabtree said.

Crabtree visited Mary Ann Nelson's pre-K class Monday.

"The children were taught to wash their hands after coughing, playing with pets, using the bathroom, playing outside and before eating," Crabtree said. "We used a product called Glo Germ and a black light to see how well they are washing their hands."

Crabtree said she had the children sing the alphabet song, which takes about 20 seconds, while washing their hands. This is the recommended length of time people should spend each time they wash their hands.