Basic 8 · Career Technology · Personal Hygiene
Demonstrating Personal Hygiene Skills
In this topic you will demonstrate skills of personal hygiene, including care of the skin, teeth, hair, nails, clothes and the body during adolescence, and explain how good hygiene prevents disease and builds confidence.
By the end of these notes you should be able to:
- Demonstrate correct procedures for bathing, hand washing and oral care
- Demonstrate care of hair, nails, feet and clothing
- Explain hygiene practices during adolescence
What you already know
- Personal hygiene practices (Basic 7)
Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.
Lesson 1
- Strand
- Health And Safety
- Sub-strand
- Personal Hygiene
- Indicator
- B8.1.1.1.1 – Demonstrate skills of personal hygiene
Introduction
Knowing that hygiene is important is not enough. You must practise the right skills every day until they become habits. In this lesson you will demonstrate the correct ways to care for your skin, hands and teeth.
1. Bathing Properly
The skin is the largest organ of the body. It protects us from germs, but it also produces sweat and oil that collect dirt. Bathing removes dirt, sweat and germs and prevents body odour and skin infections such as scabies and ringworm. In Ghana's hot climate, bathing at least twice a day is recommended.
Steps for a proper bath
- Use clean water, soap and a personal sponge.
- Wet the whole body.
- Lather the sponge and scrub from the neck downward, paying attention to the armpits, groin, between the toes and behind the ears.
- Rinse off all the soap.
- Dry with a clean, personal towel.
- Put on clean underwear and clothes.
2. Washing Hands Correctly
Hands carry more germs than any other part of the body because they touch so many surfaces. Washing hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds removes most germs. Wash hands after using the toilet, before eating or preparing food, after handling rubbish or animals, after coughing or sneezing, and after caring for a sick person. A Veronica bucket or tippy-tap provides running water where taps are not available.
3. Oral Hygiene
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| brush at least twice a day for two minutes | removes food and plaque that cause decay |
| use fluoride toothpaste | strengthens teeth |
| brush the tongue gently | removes germs that cause bad breath |
| use dental floss or chewing sticks correctly | cleans between teeth |
| reduce sugary snacks and drinks | prevents tooth decay |
| visit a dentist regularly | finds problems early |
Many Ghanaians use chewing sticks (such as from the "tweapea" tree) to clean their teeth. These can work well if used carefully, but a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste are recommended for complete cleaning.
4. Demonstration Skills
During the practical, learners demonstrate each skill step by step on themselves or with models, while classmates check against a checklist. Demonstrating correctly in front of others builds confidence and ensures everyone knows the right method.
New words
- plaque
- A sticky layer of germs on the teeth.
- fluoride
- A mineral that strengthens teeth.
- body odour
- An unpleasant smell from sweat.
- tippy-tap
- A simple hand-washing device using a container of water.
Summary
- Bath twice a day using clean water, soap, a personal sponge and towel.
- Wash hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds at key times.
- Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and limit sugary foods.
Class activity: Hygiene Demonstration
- Demonstrate hand washing with soap and a clean towel.
- Demonstrate tooth brushing on a model or with a new toothbrush.
- Check each other's steps using a checklist.
You need: Bar of locally made soap, Clean towel, Roll-on deodorant container
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. How long should you wash your hands with soap?
- A. at least 20 seconds
- B. 2 seconds
- C. 5 minutes
- D. 1 second
Show answer
Answer: at least 20 secondsRemoves germs.2. A sticky layer of germs on teeth is called…
- A. plaque
- B. fluoride
- C. enamel
- D. floss
Show answer
Answer: plaqueCauses decay.3. Fluoride toothpaste helps to strengthen teeth.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueMineral.4. A simple hand-washing device made from a container is a ______.
Show answer
Answer: tippy-tapRunning water.5. State four times when hands must be washed.
Show answer
Answer: After using the toilet, before eating, before preparing food, after handling rubbish.Any four.6. Why should towels and sponges not be shared?
Show answer
Answer: They carry germs and moisture that can spread skin infections from one person to another.Germ spread.
Lesson 2
- Strand
- Health And Safety
- Sub-strand
- Personal Hygiene
- Indicator
- B8.1.1.1.1 – Demonstrate skills of personal hygiene
Introduction
Good grooming makes us look neat and feel confident. It also protects us from infections. As young people grow, their hygiene needs change.
1. Care of Hair
Wash hair regularly with shampoo or soap and rinse well. Comb or brush it daily to remove tangles and dirt. Keep it neat according to school rules. Do not share combs or hair ties, because lice and scalp infections such as ringworm spread this way. When using hair chemicals, follow instructions and avoid overuse, which can damage the scalp.
2. Care of Nails and Feet
Cut fingernails and toenails short and straight across using a clean nail cutter. Clean under the nails with a brush. Long, dirty nails hide germs that can enter food. Wash feet daily, dry carefully between the toes, and wear clean socks and well-fitting shoes. Walking barefoot in dirty or wet places can lead to hookworm infection and cuts.
3. Care of Clothes
| Practice | Reason |
|---|---|
| change underwear daily | prevents odour and infection |
| wash school uniform regularly | removes sweat and dirt |
| dry clothes in the sun | sunlight helps kill germs |
| iron clothes | kills germs and makes clothes neat |
| store clothes in a clean, dry place | prevents mould and insects |
4. Hygiene During Adolescence
During puberty, sweat glands become more active, especially in the armpits and groin, and the skin may become oily, causing pimples. Bathing twice a day, using a deodorant or antiperspirant (such as a roll-on), washing the face gently and wearing cotton underwear help. Girls should change sanitary pads every four to six hours and dispose of them properly; boys should keep the genital area clean. These are normal changes, and good hygiene keeps young people comfortable and confident.
5. Hygiene and Self-Esteem
Clean, neatly dressed learners usually feel more confident and are treated with respect. Good hygiene also shows respect for others, because body odour and dirty clothes can make others uncomfortable. However, we should never mock someone for poor hygiene; instead, a teacher or counsellor can advise them privately.
New words
- grooming
- Keeping one's appearance neat and clean.
- lice
- Tiny insects that live in hair.
- deodorant
- A product that reduces body odour.
- hookworm
- A worm that can enter the body through bare feet.
Summary
- Wash and comb hair regularly and do not share combs.
- Keep nails short, wash feet daily, wear clean shoes and change and wash clothes regularly.
- Adolescents need extra care: twice-daily bathing, deodorant, menstrual hygiene and gentle face washing.
Class activity: Grooming Checklist
- Make a daily grooming checklist covering hair, nails, feet, clothes and body.
- Use it for one week and tick each item.
- Report what you found easy and what was difficult.
You need: Bar of locally made soap, Clean towel, Roll-on deodorant container
Exercises
Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.
1. Sharing combs can spread…
- A. lice
- B. malaria
- C. cholera
- D. asthma
Show answer
Answer: liceHair insects.2. Walking barefoot in dirty places can lead to…
- A. hookworm infection
- B. tooth decay
- C. short sight
- D. flu
Show answer
Answer: hookworm infectionEnters through feet.3. Sunlight helps to kill germs on clothes.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueDrying in the sun.4. Keeping one's appearance neat and clean is ______.
Show answer
Answer: groomingNeatness.5. State three ways of caring for nails and feet.
Show answer
Answer: Cut nails short, wash and dry feet daily, wear clean shoes and socks.Any three.6. Explain why adolescents need to pay extra attention to hygiene.
Show answer
Answer: Sweat and oil glands become more active, causing body odour and pimples, so they need more frequent bathing and care.Puberty changes.
Homework
- Practise your grooming checklist for a week and write a short report.