Clean hands = cool hands
Mitchel Musso, best known for his role as “Oliver” in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, wants kids to know that “Clean Hands are Cool Hands.”
Musso teamed with the Nashville-based HCA Foundation to create a public service announcement to help educate kids and their parents on the importance of hand washing to prevent the spread of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in schools. “I am happy to be a part of this important campaign to prevent the spread of MRSA and help raise awareness among my fans and kids of all ages to stay healthy,” Musso said. “Hopefully they will see me in this (public service announcement) and get the message that clean hands are cool, and most importantly, are less likely to spread germs.”
The 30-second PSA features Musso interacting in an animated world of every day items that can pass on germs and make people sick. The announcement shows how easy it is to come in contact with germs and how something as simple as washing your hands can dramatically reduce the spread of these germs and help prevent illnesses.
“We chose to partner with Mitchel due to his popularity and appeal to our target audience — young kids, tweens, teens and even parents,” said Joanne Pulles, executive director of the HCA foundation. “MRSA is becoming an increasing concern and cause for absence in schools, and we think Mitchel’s participation in this campaign will help deliver the message that hand washing is the single most effective and simplest way to prevent its spread.”
Because of its resistance to antibiotics, MRSA accounts for about 19,000 deaths in the United States each year.
The public service announcement is set to debut at the end of this month on television stations across the United States.
The Clean Hands are Cool Hands Web site address is www.cleanhandsarecoolhands.com.
- Signal Staff
Signal Staff Writer
Posted: Sept. 27, 2008 7:57 p.m.
It’s foamy and easy and Hart District Governing Board Member Patricia Hanrion hopes that students will use the district’s new hand-washing stations to help prevent illnesses from spreading on campus.
The registered nurse and College of the Canyons nursing instructor pushed for the hand-washing stations for several years, and the William S. Hart Union High School District installed the units in school cafeterias in time for the start of school in August.
“I think it’s great,” Hanrion said. “It’s something I’ve been pushing for because of all the super bacteria that are out there, especially during flu season.
“Hand washing is the greatest prevention.”
The Hart district had two confirmed cases of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) last fall at West Ranch High School and another case last summer at Canyon High School.
The Canyon case involved a varsity football player and required the disinfecting of the athletic locker rooms and weight room.
MRSA is a virulent, drug-resistant form of staph that is preventable largely by practicing good hygiene. The best defense against MRSA and other staph infections is to wash one’s hands often with warm water and soap, experts believe.
The district plans to install more hand-washing stations in outdoor eating areas to make them accessible. Students often don’t have time to run to the rest room and wash their hands before heading to class, Hanrion said.
“By putting (the stations) near the food areas, we’re hoping to make it more convenient so the kids will wash their hands more often,” she said. “Some kids will go from the morning until they come home from school without washing their hands.”
Students often go to school sick because they don’t want to miss an important exam or assignment, Hanrion said. She hopes that having the hand-washing stations available will help keep illnesses from spreading.
“I’m sure if we can get kids to wash their hands and use the antibacterial soap, we can reduce illness,” Hanrion said. “By having the hand-washing stations right there — it’s foamy and it’s easy — I think it will be a really good thing.”
Email Article
Print Article
Sign Up for Our Email Newsletter
