Health Heroes
An Ordinary Day and an Unexpected Call
The cheerful music of children playing filled the air. Harry and his friends were having a wonderful time, running and laughing. It was a beautiful day, full of energy and good cheer, just like most days are for children.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out to Harry. It was his grandma, who was preparing lunch.
— Hey, Harry, come inside and help us with lunch!
Harry, however, had other plans and needed to leave.
— Yes, I'm coming, I have to go. See you later, buddy! — See you soon, friend!
After saying goodbye to his friends, Harry felt terribly hungry.
— Oh my, I'm so hungry!
Grandma explained why his mom wasn't home.
— Your mom was called to the hospital. There was a very sick patient. It was an emergency. So, Harry, prepare some noodles for lunch.
Harry was happy at the thought of noodles.
— I love them!
Grandma's Hygiene Lesson
Grandma, however, had a condition before Harry could start cooking.
— Oh! Go and wash your hands first. Wash them well! And before that, leave your shoes outside!
Harry tried to convince Grandma to let him skip washing his hands.
— Come on, Grandma! — I said: go!
After complying, Harry asked about the vegetables.
— Grandma, can I cut these carrots and onions?
Grandma insisted on hygiene.
— Did you wash them? Did you wash your hands before you put in the noodles?
Harry tried to argue that boiling would solve the problem.
— Grandma, the noodles will boil. Is there no need to wash my hands?
The Health Fairy Appears and Reveals the Germs
As Harry was getting ready to cook, a mysterious voice intervened.
— Oh, no, no, no, no, no! Please, no!
Harry heard something strange.
— Huh? I think I heard something.
The voice continued to warn.
— Oh, no, no, no, no, no! Please, no!
Harry's dad heard it too.
— Did I hear something?
Harry's dad asked him to continue with the preparations.
— Ted, cut the bell pepper. — Add that chili sauce Mom bought.
The voice became more insistent.
— Oh, no, no, no, no, no! Stop! Please stop! Do you know what you're doing?
Harry asked who it was.
— Huh? Who are you? — I am the Health Fairy! Come here, everyone, look!
The Health Fairy showed them something invisible.
— Yuck! What are those?
The Invisible World of Germs
They are germs, viruses, and bacteria that live on surfaces all around us. On plates, on tables, on bags, on the toilet seat. Even though we can't see them, they are always present in the air we breathe.
When we touch these surfaces, they get onto our hands. And when we use our hands to touch our nose, eyes, or mouth, these disgusting things get into our bodies and make us sick.
That's why we need to wash our hands and feet whenever we come from outside, and make sure we cover our nose and mouth when we sneeze or cough, and always wash our hands after sneezing or coughing.
The Germ Song and the Solution
The Health Fairy urged them to listen.
— Listen!
Then, the germs began to speak.
— Hehehehe. Call us viruses, bacteria, or germs. We live in your world, among your kin. We spread diseases, make people sick. These are our terms. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Harry was desperate.
— Oh, no! Can't we do anything to stop them?
The Health Fairy revealed the solution.
— Only one thing can stop them: Sanitary Soldiers!
Harry's dad asked, puzzled.
— Sanitary Soldiers?
— Yes! Soap bubbles, gels, sanitizing foam, and disinfectants!
Harry was impressed.
— Wow!
How to Be a Health Hero
The best way to stay healthy is to wash our hands. But there's a specific way to wash. How did you do it, Ted? No, no, no, no, no, no! You need to wash with soap for at least 20 seconds. Like this, look!
— Front and back, on the thumb and the others, then in between, then wrists and nails. We kill the germs and stay clean. And then, again!
The children repeated the song.
— Front and back, on the thumb and the others, then in between, then wrists and nails. We kill the germs and stay clean!
Then, turn off the tap with a tissue and open the door with the same tissue. And then throw it away. And if you don't have water and soap, hand sanitizer is good too.
Wash your hands every time you use the bathroom, before and after eating anything, when you come from outside, after putting on your shoes, or after using tools like pencils, glue, toys, etc. When you open the door, when you touch things at the mall, when you get in and out of a taxi.
Apply disinfectant regularly in parks, on doorknobs, and on doorbells to keep them clean.
Recycling and Protecting the Environment
The children thanked the Health Fairy.
— Oh! Thank you, Health Fairy! Now we will be very careful and wash our hands well!
The Health Fairy continued with another important lesson.
Also, don't forget to put your trash in three separate bins. The green bin is for household waste, like vegetable peels and other kitchen scraps. The yellow one is for recyclable materials, like cardboard, plastic, and glass. And the third one, the red one, is for chemical products, like batteries, used light bulbs, or chemicals like nail polish or glue.
Harry asked why.
— But why?
Because household waste can be used to make compost for healthier gardens. However, if batteries and chemical products get into the soil, they will destroy it. These must go to special factories that handle chemical products. Also, we have electronic waste centers in every city.
Harry asked what those were.
— What are those?
They are special centers for disposing of or recycling used mobile phones, laptops, and tablets, and their accessories, because these devices produce harmful chemicals that severely damage the environment and can lead to loss of life. You must find the center in your city and make sure that electronic waste only goes there.
Conclusion: Be a Health Hero!
Our health and the health of our world depend on us. And it's not very difficult to achieve. By taking care of the small things, we can save millions of lives. People just need to care.
And if you care, wear this! The Health Hero bracelet, for the health hero. When the health hero is somewhere, there is no dirt, no trash, and no germs.
Harry's dad took the initiative.
— I am a health hero, so I wash my hands properly with soap or sanitizer.
Harry's mom added.
— And I disinfect surfaces at home.
Harry continued.
— And I separate the trash.
The children shouted with enthusiasm.
— And we are health heroes! — We are all health heroes!
The Health Fairy concluded.
— And now I must leave. This is your world, not mine. This world is your responsibility. You must choose between environmental destruction, germs, diseases, or harmony with nature, hygiene, and the well-being of all.
Being health heroes doesn't just mean wearing a bracelet on your hand. You are part of a community of people who dare to take responsibility for their world. I know you can do it, but you must spread the word and make sure all people become health heroes.
The children chanted.
— Sha sha! We are health heroes! — And we are health heroes! Alongside us, with the Health Fairy!
Our health and the health of the environment depend on our daily actions. By correctly washing our hands, sanitizing surfaces, and recycling responsibly, each of us can become a health hero, contributing to a cleaner and safer future for all.
