Health and Hygiene – JSS3 Intermediate Science Lesson Note (Second Term)

Hygiene is the practice of keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean to prevent disease and stay healthy.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define health, hygiene and first aid.
2. List five habits of good personal hygiene.
3. State four ways of keeping a community healthy.
4. State the aims of first aid.
5. Describe first aid for cuts, burns, fainting and snake bites.
6. List the items in a first aid box and give the use of each.

What is personal hygiene?

Personal hygiene is the care of your own body to remove germs (microbes) before they make you sick.

What daily habits keep the body clean?

• Skin care: bathe at least twice a day with soap and clean water to remove sweat, oil and dirt.
• Oral hygiene: brush your teeth in the morning and before bed to prevent tooth decay and bad breath.
• Hand washing: wash your hands after using the toilet, before eating and after playing outside.
• Hair and nails: keep hair clean and neat. Clip fingernails short so dirt and germs cannot hide under them.
• Clean clothes: dirty underwear or socks can cause skin infections such as ringworm and rashes.

How do you wash your hands properly?

1. Wet your hands with clean water.
2. Apply soap.
3. Rub the palms, the backs of the hands, between the fingers and under the nails for about 20 seconds.
4. Rinse with clean water.
5. Dry with a clean towel or allow to air dry.

What is community health?

Community health is the practice of keeping our surroundings clean so that diseases do not spread from person to person.

• Shared risk: if one neighbour dumps refuse in the gutter, mosquitoes that breed there bite everyone in the street.

How is community health maintained?

1. Proper waste disposal: use covered dustbins. Avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse in bushes or drainage channels.
2. Clean water supply: protect wells and boreholes. Do not wash clothes or bathe in a river that people use for drinking.
3. Sewage control: use proper toilets such as water closets or VIP latrines. Open defecation leads to outbreaks of cholera and typhoid.
4. Market sanitation: sweep the market regularly. Keep meat and vegetables away from flies.

Which diseases come from poor hygiene?

What is first aid?

First aid is the immediate and temporary care given to an injured or sick person before a doctor or nurse arrives.

What are the aims of first aid?

• Save life: this is the first and most important aim.
• Prevent worsening: stop the injury from getting worse.
• Help recovery: help the person get better faster.

How do you give first aid in common situations?

How do you treat cuts and wounds?

1. Wash your hands and wear disposable gloves if available.
2. Press a clean cloth on the wound to stop the bleeding.
3. Clean the area with an antiseptic such as Dettol.
4. Cover it with a sterile bandage or plaster.
5. Take the person to a clinic if the cut is deep.

How do you treat burns and scalds?

1. Run cool (not icy) water over the area for at least 10 minutes.
2. Do not rub oil or toothpaste on the burn.
3. Cover the area loosely with a clean cloth.
4. Get medical help if the burn is large or deep.

How do you treat fainting?

1. Lay the person flat on their back.
2. Lift their legs slightly.
3. Make sure they have plenty of fresh air.
4. Loosen tight clothing around the neck.

How do you treat snake bites?

1. Keep the person calm and still so the venom does not spread fast.
2. Do not try to suck out the poison.
3. Do not cut the wound.
4. Get the person to a hospital immediately.

What is in a first aid box?

A first aid box is a container holding basic items for treating minor injuries, and every classroom and home should have one.

Evaluation

1. Define hygiene and first aid.
2. List three things you do every morning for your personal hygiene.
3. Why is it dangerous to dump refuse in the gutter during the rainy season?
4. State the three aims of first aid.
5. What is the first thing you should do if a friend gets a minor burn in the laboratory?

Assignment

List five items in a first aid box and state the use of each. Then write the steps for giving first aid to a person who has fainted.