Ottawa doctor pens nursery rhyme to teach proper handwashing

An Ottawa doctor has turned to song to teachkidsand adults, for that matterhow to wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs.

Dr. Nisha Thampi, an infectious disease physicianat CHEO, thearea's children's hospital, created a video set to the tune ofFrre Jacques and featuring thesix-step handwashingmethod recommended by the World Health Organization.

Thampi's25-second rendition, which was co-authored by her daughter andDr. Yves Longtin, an infectious disease specialist at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, isfeatured in the December issue of The BMJ, orBritish Medical Journal.

Thampi said asan infectious disease physician and a mother of two, she thinks a lot about germs at home and school.

"I was trying to find a fun way to remember the stuff," she said."There are six steps that have been codified by the World Health Organization, but they're complex and hard to remember."

Watch the handwashing video below, orhere:

Thampi said she came up with theidea to rewrite the lyrics to the nursery rhyme on World Hand Hygiene Day in May, when she was thinking about how to help people remember the technique.

She said studies have shown that handwashing is effective in reducing the risk ofdiarrhea-related illnesses and respiratory diseases.

"So I'd say it's one of the most important and easiest things we can do."

The video includes such often-overlooked steps as "wash the back," "twirl the tips around" and "thumb attack," which pays special attentionto the first digit.

Six steps to handwashing, sung to the tune of Frre Jacques or Brother John:

• Scrub your palms.
• Between the fingers.
• Wash the back, wash the back.
• Twirl the tips around.
• Scrub them upside down.
• Thumb attack, thumb attack.

Thampi's aim is to help people develop hand hygiene muscle memory, correct bad habits and make public health gains, starting with kids, CHEO says.

Proper handwashing can reduce the transmission of colds by up to 21 per cent; it can cut school absenteeism due tostomach illness by as much as 57 per cent; and it canreduce diarrhea cases by up to 40 per cent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

The Canadian Pediatric Society also recommends regular handwashing, especially before preparing or eating food andafter using the toilet, wiping or blowing your nose, cleaning the house or handling pets.