Olympia Learning Center's sixth through 12th graders have been selected for the All-Health Team for their Healthy Hands Olympia project to promote hand hygiene.

"As a school nurse, I see firsthand the impact illnesses have on school attendance," said Olympia Nurse Cheryl Guyton. "Studies have shown that every day more than 900,000 students in grades K-12 miss school due to illness, especially during the cold and flu season. Most of the illnesses responsible for school absenteeism are infections and can be prevented through proper hand hygiene."

The Healthy Hands Olympia project is a way of spreading knowledge instead of germs among the Richland County school's faculty, staff and students. Nurses know the importance of proper hand hygiene in breaking the chain of infection. In an effort to get this message out, bulletin boards, banners, flyers and signs were placed throughout the school.

www.scdhec.gov/allhealth