Is your child around dreaded germs at your Reno daycare provider?

For many parents these days, germs are a bad word and they will do just about anything to make sure that child doesn’t get sick from touching them. The problem…germs are everywhere, especially in a child care environment.

NEW YORK, Nov 15, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Sharing is an important lesson for young children to learn, but not when it comes to germs.

Children can touch and retouch over 300 surfaces in just 30 minutes, and with germs surviving on those surfaces for up to 72 hours(1) one child’s germs can quickly spread to another. To encourage healthier environments, Softsoap(R) BRAND liquid hand soap and the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP) have partnered to educate families on how to prevent the spread of germs and illness among children.

With the average toddler catching between 6 and 8 colds a year(2), it is important for parents to teach their children to practice healthy habits. Proper hand washing is one of the most important preventative measures to help children avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others. Children who wash their hands properly at least 4 times a day experience 24 percent fewer sick days from cold and flu, and 51 percent fewer sick days due to stomach ailments.(3)

“For the parents of the nearly 15 million children enrolled in child care centers nationwide, receiving the call that their child is sick may be familiar,” says Bobette Thompson, President of the National Association of Child Care Professionals. “For child care professionals, preventing the spread of germs and illness is a top priority in our effort to keep children healthy and happy. One of the first things we teach our children is the proper way to wash their hands, and more importantly, when to do so.”

Throughout the course of a day an average of 12 “hand washing moments” occur for adults and even more for children.(4) Child care professionals are teaching children about “hand washing moments,” such as before eating meals, and the following healthy habits:

Refraining from touching the eyes and mouth Sneezing and coughing into the inner elbow Frequent, proper hand washing with soap and water

Proper hand washing techniques include washing hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, which can be a difficult feat for children. To help teach children this practice, Softsoap(R) BRAND has teamed up with the American Public Health Association (APHA) to feature unique “Get Ready” hand washing timers that easily attach directly to Softsoap(R) BRAND soap pumps. When pressed, the timers play a fun song for 20 seconds, helping children stay engaged to get hands clean and wash away germs.

“Proper hand washing is the best defense against spreading germs and preventing sickness among children,” said Barry Reichgott, Senior Brand Manger, Softsoap(R) Liquid Hand Soap, Colgate-Palmolive. “Through our partnership with NACCP, we are excited to provide nearly 10,000 day care centers across the country with hand washing kits. These informative kits include Softsoap(R) BRAND liquid hand soap, the American Public Health Association’s “Get Ready” hand washing timers, and fun hand washing materials to promote effective hand washing among children.”

In addition to washing hands frequently with warm water and Softsoap(R) BRAND liquid hand soap, families are encouraged to practice the following healthy habits:

Eating a well balanced and healthy diet: Preschool aged children should consume between 1,000 and 1,600 calories per day including fruits, vegetables, protein and grains(5) Getting a good night’s sleep: Ten to twelve hours per day is recommended for children ages two to five(6) Drinking plenty of fluids: Water quenches thirst, milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and 100% juice is rich in fruits and vegetables(7) Avoid sharing food and drink with others

For more hand washing information, tips and activities, visit www.LatherUpForGoodHealth.com.

About Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer Products Company tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface Care, Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. In the U.S., Colgate sells its quality products under such nationally recognized brand names as Colgate(R), Palmolive(R), Mennen(R), Ajax(R), Irish Spring(R), Softsoap(R) Brand, Murphy(R) Oil Soap, and Ultra Brite(R) , as well as Hill’s(R) Science Diet(R) and Hill’s(R) Prescription Diet(R) pet foods. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive and its products, visit the company’s web site at www.Colgate.com.

About the National Association of Child Care Professionals

NACCP is a professional association serving child care owners, directors and administrators. The organization’s goal is to strengthen and enhance the credibility of leaders in the field of early child care and education by providing membership services and benefits. For more information about NACCP, please visit www.naccp.org.

About the American Public Health Association

Founded in 1872, the APHA is the oldest, largest and most diverse organization of public health professionals in the world. The association aims to protect all Americans and their communities from preventable, serious health threats and strives to assure community-based health promotion and disease prevention activities and preventive health services are universally accessible in the United States. APHA represents a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policy-makers and health officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and educational institutions. More information is available at www.apha.org.

(1)  U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 - 2008 American Community Survey. (2)  "Helpful Hints for Families," 2009, Alliance for Consumer http://www.stopgerms.org(3)  "Hand-washing: What You Need to Know, Why it's so Important," http://www.aphagetready.org(4)  "H1N1 HandWashing - How Often? 'Washable Moments,'" 2009, http://www.suite101.com/content/h1n1-the-washable-moment-may-save-lives-a148454(5)  "MyPyramid Food Intake Pattern Calorie Levels," 2005, United http://www.mypyramid.gov/downloads/MyPyramid_Calorie_Levels.pdf(6)  "How Much Sleep Do I Need," 9 Sept 2010, Centers for Disease http://www.cdc.gov/sleep/how_much_sleep.htm(7)  "Healthy Eating for Children 2 Through 5 Years Old," 1 May 2009, http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/348/348-150/348-150.html

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6511566&lang=en

SOURCE: Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive Company  Stephanie Clark, 212-310-2774  Stephanie_Clark@colpal.com  or  Cohn & Wolfe  Amy Fernandez, 212-798-9701  Amy.fernandez@cohnwolfe.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Important information if you have a child in day care in Reno NV. With the temperatures dropping this year, and viruses flying around, following a few tips could keep your child feeling A-OK this winter!