PUPPET NAMED BAC TAKES CENTER STAGE IN FOOD, FUN & FITNESS PROGRAM

SITUATION
One indicator of good health is frequency of illness. An estimated 76 million people in the United States are sickened each year due to a foodborne illness. Many of these illnesses occur as a result of improper food handling practices in the home. Many research studies have proven the effectiveness of hand washing in disease prevention, yet many people just do not do it often enough or they do not do it correctly. One study of 1000 U.S. households found that 44% of people surveyed consistently forgot to wash their hands before preparing meals. A 2003 review of current research concluded that an estimated million lives worldwide could be saved by simply getting everyone to wash their hands properly. Germs are everywhere. But there are few places where they are more prevalent than in a school. For that reason, hand washing lessons are a priority for the Marathon County Nutrition Education Program. 

RESPONSE
Since 1997, Marathon County nutrition education staff has conducted the school nutrition program called “Food, Fun and Fitness” in kindergarten, second and fourth grades at six low-income schools in the Wausau School District that meet a 50% free or reduced price lunch enrollment figure. In 2008, approximately 785 youth in forty-eight classrooms participated either monthly or bimonthly in multi-session lessons on nutrition, food identification, simple snack preparation, food safety and physical activity. As part of the program, WNEP educators used a large green germ puppet named BAC, short for Bacteria, to teach 278 Kindergarten students and 239 2nd graders four ways they can rid themselves of germs. While washing their hands is the most important way to fight BAC, they also are reminded of the need to put the milk back in the refrigerator after their done using it, to rinse their fruit and vegetables before eating them, and to keep their shoes and backpacks off tables and counters.

RESULTS
Evaluation results indicate before the hand washing lesson, 55% of 236 second graders knew the correct way to wash their hands. After the lesson, 86% of 239 second graders were able to describe proper hand washing. A month after conducting the hand washing lesson, a parent survey was sent home with 136 of the participating second graders. Seventy-seven of the parent surveys were returned, a 57% return rate. Of these parents, 63 (82%) reported that their child seemed more willing to wash their hands and also that their child had been washing their hands for 20 seconds. Fifty-six parents (73%) also reported that their child had been washing without being reminded and thirty-five parents (45%) reported that their child had been reminding others to wash their hands. In another lesson, educators taught 236 fourth graders about making healthful choices at a fast food restaurant. The students worked in small groups to determine healthy choices from various restaurant menus. Before the lesson, 59% of 236 learners were able to choose a healthful lunch from a list of fast food choices. After the lesson, 87% of the learners were able to do so.

EVIDENCE
Ninety-nine percent of participating teachers rated the program a 5 on a 1-5 scale, with 5 being outstanding. One second grade teacher commented, “I think this program is so important for my students. Other evaluation results are from parents using a written survey and observations by teachers.

Tammy Hansen, Family Nutrition Program Coordinator - 2008 Success Story

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