The American Red Cross is doing its part to help children stay healthy as the flu continues to make its season rounds in schools.
Red Cross representatives have been visiting Iredell-Statesville Schools, the Mooresville Graded School District and North Mecklenburg elementary schools to teach students steps to good hygiene.
The program is called "Scrubby Bear" and teaches children how to properly wash their hands and prevent the spread of germs.
The Red Cross has put added emphasis on its years-old Scrubby Bear program in response to recent flu scares in schools across the country.
"With the flu going on, we're really trying to get out and do it," Emergency Services Program Manager Howard Hanlon said.
Since the start of this school year, the Red Cross has reached more than 2,500 children with the Scrubby Bear initiative, according to Hanlon. Not only is it being taught in elementary schools, but during after-school and day care programs as well. Upon completion, each child receives a certification of completion.
During Hanlon's sessions Thursday morning at Harmony Elementary, students watched a video titled "Don't Get Sick, Wash Up Quick with Scrubby Bear."
After the students watched the video, Hanlon explained how and when students should wash their hands.
Third-grader Gabriel White, 8, was chosen to demonstrate how germs are always present on the hands.
Hanlon put "Glo Germ," on Gabriel's hands, and with a blacklight, showed students the germs visible on Gabriel's hands.
Gabriel said he's been sick before, but now he's going to follow Hanlon's instructions to be germ free.
"I'll wash them more now because I don't want to get sick," he said.
Hannah Johnson, 8, said she already knew how to properly wash her hands and practices good hygiene because "it's really no fun getting sick."
"Washing your hands will prevent people from getting sick," she said.
Hannah was happy Hanlon came to her school to talk with her and her classmates.
"It was a great thing to do to teach people to keep their hands washed and cleaned," she said.
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