CANANDAIGUA, N.Y., Wednesday, October 21, 2009 – Tomorrow, Thursday October 22 starting at 9:30 a.m., Red Cross volunteers will teach a total of 300 Victor Central School kindergarten students how to stay healthy and germ free through the Red Cross Scrubby Bear program; a hand washing program used to teach children the importance of good habits to help prevent diseases such as Infectious Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, colds, and more. The presentations will be held at the Victor Administration Building, 953 High Street and will be taught in seven-20 minute sessions.
“The American Red Cross Scrubby Bear program is a fun and exciting way that the West Ontario County Office teaches children primarily in the four to six year age range that hand washing is the number one universal precaution for preventing the spread of communicable diseases and viruses,” said Judy Bennett, Director of the West Ontario Red Cross. “With the current threat of the H1N1 virus it’s important to teach and reinforce good habits among this vulnerable age group of children. Last year we reached more than 600 children through the Scrubby Bear program and we have been presenting it to Victor Central School Students for the past three years.”
During the visit children will be introduced to proper techniques through a song and a familiar story line. The kids will receive interactive handouts, stickers, badges and a card signifying membership in the Scrubby Bear Club to commend them on completing the session. The giveaways help the children take the newly-received vital health habit information into their homes.
For more information on the Scrubby Bear program or to attend the Victor Central School presentations please contact Judy Bennett, Director of the West Ontario County Red Cross at 585-394-2260.
About the West Ontario Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.RochesterRedCross.org/WORC or contact us at 585-394-2260.