Will you wash and clean your hands?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/10/2010 (5679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Do you like to clean your hands?

Ask Dr. Embil, “Soapy Man.”

Dr. John Embil wants everyone to understand the benefits of clean hands, and even paid $5,200 out of his own pocket to help make that happen.

Embil, medical director of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Health Science Centre’s infection, prevention and control program, is the creator and star of a new booklet that borrows heavily from Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham to encourage everyone big and small about the importance of clean hands all the time, not just during cold and flu season.

Embil donned bright orange tights and a big smile to star as Soapy in the booklet, called You’ll Like Clean Hands. He also borrowed his wife’s 20-year-old Siamese cat and local vascular surgeon Dr. Joshua Koulack as co-stars.

“We’re trying to keep it on the lighter side rather than a dire discussion on the fate of mankind,” Embil said.

The goal of the booklet, through its Dr. Seussesque language and colourful photos, is to spread the message of not spreading germs.

“It doesn’t matter if this is offered in a school or a health-care setting, the principles are the same,” he said.

The booklet has been in the works for a while and was recently unveiled at Bug Day, a day-long seminar at the Health Sciences Centre that deals with infectious diseases.

As to why Embil took the time to put together and pay for You’ll Like Clean Hands, he says it’s because there’s nothing out there that deals with hand-washing that all can read and understand.

“I’m passionate,” he said. “If we waited for a budget line for this, there would never be a budget line for this.”

The end of the book features step-by-step instructions and photos of how to properly wash your hands and how to use hand sanitizer.

Embil said for him it really doesn’t matter what people think of the booklet or seeing him in spandex — what matters is that they remember it.

“I believe in the project,” he said. “If people want one, we’re more than happy to give them one.”

Progressive Conservative Health Critic Myrna Driedger gave a glowing review for Embil’s project.

“I commend Dr. Embil for his strong personal commitment to encourage more handwashing to fight germs,” she said. “He has stepped up to the plate with his own money to make a difference and I think that is fantastic.”

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

Where to find it

You’ll Like Clean Hands is available for download on the Internet.

A PDF version is posted on the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s website at www.wrha.mb.ca/soapy