IF YOU PET ANIMALS—PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS!

Autumn means fair and festival season—and that means your group may get the chance to get up close and personal with animals in petting zoos.
Like all living things, those cute and cuddly creatures do carry germs. However it’s not very complicated to reduce this health risk. Proper hand washing is one of the most effective strategies to avoid spreading illnesses. This relates to illnesses spread between humans and also ones that can be picked up from animals.
Animals can carry a wide range of germs, including E. coli, without showing any signs of disease. Symptoms of E.coli infection in people include watery or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting. Young children, especially those under age 5, are more likely to have severe symptoms. Results could be kidney failure or death in some cases.
Here are a few tips taken from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) about staying safe and healthy when visiting animals.
If you are visiting an animal exhibit:
Hand-washing stations
Find out where hand-washing stations are located.
Always wash your hands after petting animals or touching the animal enclosure, especially before eating and drinking.
Running water and soap are best. Use hand gels if running water and soap are not available.
Food and drinks
Keep food and drinks out of animal areas.
Do not share your food with animals.
Do not eat or drink raw (unpasteurized) dairy products.
Children
Children younger than 5 years old need supervision
Never allow children to put their hands or objects (For example: pacifiers) in their mouth while interacting with animals.
Hand washing should be supervised.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/HEALTHYPETS/spotlight_an_exhbts.htm
Also check out this free animated, interactive Web Site—The Scrub Club
http://www.scrubclub.org created by NSF International - was developed as a fun way for kids to learn the importance of washing their hands. Proper hand washing is one of the most effective things that we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to each other."
Seven "soaper-heroes" help children learn how to prevent E.coli infections with the basics of good hand washing.
Keeping children healthy is one of our jobs as caregivers. Since petting zoos are popular amongst preschoolers, I thought I would send you these tips. Check out the web links too!
Tania
Associate Editor/ EverydayTLC