March 2, 2007

Mill Creek Enterprise

Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW

Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW At Silver Firs Elementary: A student

displays her hands under a blacklight after washing "Glo Gel" off of

them, Tuesday, Feb. 27. The school has been using the gel to teach

students how to properly wash their hands. After the gel is applied and

washed off, a blacklight illuminates the gel where it was not removed.

This student is very good at handwashing, so there is very little

evidence of the gel.

Hand washing best defense

against flu

Enterprise staff

The days are getting longer, but cold and flu season

is not over. One of the best ways to prevent sickness

is by washing hands as often as possible, but many

people don't wash their hands for maximum

effectiveness, according to health officials.

Here are some hand-washing tips from the Snohomish Health District:

• Turn on warm water

• Apply soap to hands

• Rub soap over tops and palms of hands and around fingernails. Scrub hands for about 20 seconds.

• Rinse with running water.

• Dry with clean, disposable towel.

• Repeat the process if preparing food.

Debbie Brown, health room assistant at Silver Firs Elementary, suggests turning the faucet off with a

disposable towel as well.

Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW

After applying "Glo Gel" to her hands, second-grader Alyssa Soucy washes it off in

the school sink, Tuesday, Feb. 27, at Silver Firs Elementary School in Vicki

Pawlitschek's second-grade class. Also pictured are classmates Riley Davis (far

left) and Hannah Aho.