The Bethlehem Health Bureau offers City of Bethlehem schools, organizations, and businesses interactive hand washing education through the “Germ City” and “Glitterbug” programs. These programs have been utilized at schools in the Bethlehem Area School District, pre-schools, Bethlehem City Hall, senior centers and community and business health fairs.

Program Objectives

The primary function of the Germ City and Glitterbug programs is as an educational tool to increase awareness and facilitate meaningful changes in hand washing behaviors necessary to improve all levels of community infection control prevention.

The objectives of the Germ City and Glitterbug Program are to:

1. Enhance awareness of the importance of hand washing using science based education for youth, adults, and older Americans preparing food in the home.
2. Improve effectiveness and frequency of hand washing reaching a diverse audience in rural and urban settings including children, adults, senior citizens, and at-risk population groups.
3. Modify attitudes, enhance personal motivation, and facilitate positive behavior change for hand washing.

Reserve Germ City for large events, such as health fairs, and Glitterbug for smaller events, like a daycare class!

Hand washing reminder: Scrub hands for at least 20 seconds, or the amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” in your head twice.

Step #1: Wet your hands with warm water

Step #2: Apply soap to hands

Step #3: Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds

Step #4: Be sure to wash the palms and backs of your hands, fingers, finger nails, in between fingers, and up to your wrists

Step #5: Wash the soap and germs away

Step #6: Dry your hands

Don’t forget to use a paper towel to turn off faucets and to open the restroom door

Please view photos below to see Germ City and Glitterbug in action!

Glitterbug

Germ City at the BASD Nurse’s In-Service

Posters detail hand washing techniques and
the many places germs can be acquired!

A young visitor enters Germ City

Learning proper hand washing techniques

Germ City exterior with hand washing stations

Earth Day

Earth Day