HYGIENE Notes, Quizzes & Revision
๐ Revision Notes โข ๐ Quizzes โข ๐ Past Papers available in app
SUBTOPIC: HYGIENE
Topic: topic_name_replace ยท Subject: subject_replace ยท Target age: age_replace (Kenya)
What is hygiene?
Hygiene means the habits and practices we use to keep our bodies, clothes, homes and environment clean to prevent illness. Good hygiene helps children stay healthy, go to school and play safely.
Key points โ simple and practical
- Handwashing: Wash hands with soap and clean water at important times (after using the toilet, before eating, before preparing food, after playing outside).
- Face and mouth care: Brush teeth twice daily; cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
- Bathing and clean clothes: Bathe regularly and wear clean clothes to avoid skin infections.
- Nail care: Keep nails short and clean to stop germs hiding under nails.
- Safe water: Drink treated or boiled water. Store water in clean covered containers.
- Sanitation: Use a latrine or toilet, and keep it clean.
- Food hygiene: Wash raw foods, cook thoroughly and keep food covered to avoid flies and dust.
- Menstrual hygiene: Use clean materials, change regularly and dispose or wash materials safely and discreetly.
Handwashing โ easy visual steps
How to keep drinking water safe (Kenyan context)
- Boil water until it is rolling hot for at least 1 minute (longer at high altitude) โ let it cool before drinking.
- Use water treatment products if available (chlorine drops / Waterguard / household bleach in correct amounts).
- Keep water in clean, covered containers and draw out with a spout or ladle to avoid contamination.
Sanitation and toilets
Always use a latrine or toilet. After use, clean with water and a little soap if possible. Dispose of waste properly and keep the toilet area tidy to prevent flies and smells that spread disease.
Simple way to make a tippy-tap (for handwashing where there is no tap)
- Find a clean plastic bottle and hang it from a stick with string.
- Make a small hole near the cap so water flows slowly when the bottle is tipped.
- Place a soap bar or container of soapy water nearby.
- Step on a foot-pegged stick or pull the string to tip the bottle and rinse hands.
Common diseases prevented by good hygiene
- Diarrhoea (from dirty water/food and poor hand hygiene)
- Cholera, typhoid (waterborne)
- Skin infections and scabies
- Respiratory infections (coughs, colds) โ reduce spread by covering coughs and washing hands
Practical classroom/home routines (short and clear)
- Morning: wash face and hands, check nails and hair.
- Before meals: everyone washes hands with soap.
- After toilet: wash hands carefully with soap.
- Weekly: clean the latrine/toilet and classroom surfaces.
Key terms (with short meanings)
- Hygiene: Ways to keep clean and healthy.
- Sanitation: Safe disposal of human waste and rubbish.
- Contamination: Dirty things that make food or water unsafe.
- Tippy-tap: Simple handwashing device used in many Kenyan communities.
Short activities & checks (can be used by teachers/parents)
- Handwashing song: sing a 20-second rhyme while rubbing hands to make sure time is enough.
- Weekly checklist: hair, nails, teeth brushed, clothes clean, latrine clean, water stored covered.
- Role-play: show how to cover a cough, how to wash after using the latrine, or how to clean a plate safely.
Revision questions
- When should you always wash your hands?
- List three ways to make water safe to drink.
- What is a tippy-tap and why is it useful?
Summary
Good hygiene is simple but powerful. Regular handwashing with soap, safe water, clean toilets and food safety prevent many illnesses. Use local solutions (like tippy-taps) and practice routines at school and at home to keep children healthy and learning.