Toilet Hygiene, Handwashing and Disease Prevention for Primary 1

Toilet Hygiene

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. use the toilets correctly;
2. wash hand correctly;
3. explain the benefits of toilet hygiene.

What is Toilet Hygiene?

Toilet hygiene means keeping the toilet and the area around it clean. It also means keeping oneself clean when using the toilet. Good toilet hygiene helps people stay healthy and prevents the spread of germs.

Using the Toilet Correctly

Using the toilet correctly is an important part of staying clean and healthy. It means following simple steps every time the toilet is used.

When using a sitting toilet, sit properly on the toilet seat. After using the toilet, always flush it to wash away waste. Make sure the toilet is clean for the next person.

When using a squat toilet, squat properly over the hole. Be careful not to step on the edges with shoes. After using the toilet, always flush it with water to wash away waste. Ensure the area is clean and dry.

After flushing, always close the toilet lid if there is one. This helps to keep germs from spreading into the air.

Hand Washing

Hand washing is a very important part of toilet hygiene. Germs can easily get on the hands when using the toilet. These germs can make people sick if they are not washed away.

Washing hands with soap and clean water removes germs. This simple act helps to keep people healthy and stops sickness from spreading to others.

How to Wash Hands Properly

Washing hands correctly is a skill that everyone should learn. It takes a short time but makes a big difference in preventing sickness. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Wet hands: Turn on the tap and wet the hands with clean running water.
2. Apply soap: Put a small amount of soap on the wet hands.
3. Lather hands: Rub the hands together to make foam (lather). Make sure to rub the palms, the back of the hands, between the fingers, and under the fingernails. Do this for at least 20 seconds, which is about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
4. Rinse hands: Rinse the hands thoroughly under clean running water until all the soap is gone.
5. Dry hands: Dry the hands with a clean towel, tissue paper, or by air-drying them.
6. Turn off tap: Use the towel or tissue paper to turn off the tap if it is not an automatic tap. This stops germs from getting back on clean hands.

Benefits of Toilet Hygiene

Practising good toilet hygiene has many important benefits for health and well-being. These benefits help everyone stay healthy and comfortable.

1. Prevents the spread of diseases: When people practise good toilet hygiene, they stop germs from spreading. This helps to prevent diseases like diarrhoea and cholera, which can make people very sick. These diseases are often caused by germs from faeces getting into food or water.
2. Reduces the risk of infections: Good toilet hygiene also lowers the chance of getting infections. For example, it helps reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and gastroenteritis. These infections can cause pain and discomfort.
3. Prevents unpleasant odours and irritations: Keeping the toilet and oneself clean prevents bad smells. It also stops skin irritations that can happen when things are not clean. A clean toilet area is more pleasant for everyone to use.