Have you ever wondered how germs sneak into our bodies and make us sick? Let’s explore this interesting topic together!
Germs are tiny living things that can cause sickness. They’re so small that you can’t see them with your eyes alone. Even though germs are everywhere, they don’t make you sick just by being near you. You only get sick when germs find a way inside your body.
Germs usually get into our bodies through openings like our mouths, noses, and eyes. This is why it’s important to keep these areas clean and protected. For example, if someone sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets filled with germs can float in the air. If you breathe them in, you might get sick. That’s why we cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough, to keep those droplets from spreading.
One of the best ways to keep germs out is by washing your hands. We often touch our faces without realizing it, and if our hands have germs on them, they can easily get into our bodies. By washing our hands with soap and water, we rinse the germs away, sending them down the drain instead of into our bodies.
Did you know that people didn’t always know about germs? Before the invention of the microscope, germs were too small for anyone to see. Once scientists discovered them, they could start finding ways to stop them from making us sick. This led to the creation of medicines like vaccines and antibiotics, which help fight off germs once they’re inside our bodies.
Now that you know how germs get inside your body, you can take steps to keep them out. Remember to wash your hands, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and try not to touch your face too much. Keep exploring and asking questions, because there’s always more to learn about the world around us!
Thanks for joining this adventure into the world of germs. Stay curious, and see you next time!
Germ Detective: Become a germ detective in your own home! With the help of an adult, use a magnifying glass to explore different surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and toys. Make a list of places where you think germs might be hiding. Discuss why these places might have more germs and how you can keep them clean.
Handwashing Experiment: Conduct a fun experiment to see how well you wash your hands. Use glitter or a washable marker to represent germs. Rub a small amount on your hands, then try washing it off with just water. Next, wash with soap and water. Observe the difference and discuss why soap is important in removing germs.
Germ-Free Challenge: Challenge yourself and your family to a “Germ-Free Day.” Keep track of how many times you wash your hands, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing, and avoid touching your face. At the end of the day, share your experiences and talk about how these actions help keep germs away.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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(phone ringing) – Hi, Doug. – Hi, Natasha. – I have a question for you. How do germs get inside of your body? – Ooh, that’s a great question. From a young age, adults tell us about germs, right? Like, if food falls on the floor, don’t eat it. It might have germs on it. We’re told it’s important to cover our mouths when we sneeze and to wash our hands before we eat. It seems like germs must be everywhere. But what really are germs anyway? They’re extremely tiny living things that can make you sick. They’re so small that you can’t see them with your eyes alone. But it’s not like germs make you sick just by being near you; otherwise, we’d be getting sick all the time. When we do get sick, it means germs were able to get inside our bodies. How do they do that? If you want to stop and discuss this with someone nearby, now would be a good time to pause the video.
Okay, you ready? Well, before I tell you this, it might surprise you that people haven’t always known that germs are what make us sick. In fact, before the microscope was invented, no one even knew that germs existed. They were just too small for anyone to notice. There are lots of different kinds of germs, and different germs cause different sicknesses. For example, some germs cause the common cold, while others might cause stomach issues or the flu. The discovery of germs was really important because once we figured out that germs cause illness, we could start to find ways to stop them.
Figuring out how to kill germs once they’re inside your body involves medicine, from traditional knowledge of helpful plants to the discovery of special medicines like vaccines and antibiotics. But what if you could figure out how to stop germs from ever getting into your body in the first place? How do they even get in? From all the advice about washing your hands and not touching things on the ground, it might seem like just touching germs can make you sick. However, scientists have figured out that this is not how most germs get into your body. Most germs, especially those that cause colds and flu, get into your body through openings like your mouth, nose, and eyes.
So, as long as you avoid getting germs into your mouth, nose, or eyes, you’re less likely to catch a cold or the flu. Technically, you could stand next to someone with germs in their body and not get sick. But here’s where it gets trickier. If that person sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets go into the air. If the person is sick, those droplets likely contain germs. If you breathe them in, you might get sick. This is why everyone says to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. At least then the droplets won’t go into the air; they stay in your elbow or tissue instead.
But sneezing or coughing isn’t the only way germs can get inside your body. We often rub our eyes, noses, or put our fingers near our mouths without realizing it. Adults often advise, “Try not to touch your face,” especially when germs are going around. That can be hard to follow, though. What if you have an itch? The good news is that touching your face doesn’t mean germs will definitely get inside your body. It’s only a concern if your hands have germs on them, like if you’ve been touching surfaces that many people touch. This is why it’s important to wash your hands well. If we wash our hands before touching our faces or eating, the soap and water rinse off the germs, so they go down the drain instead of into our bodies.
In summary, many germs that make us sick enter our bodies through openings like our mouths, noses, and eyes. By practicing good hygiene, we can make it harder for germs to get near these openings. That’s all for this week’s question. Thanks, Natasha, for asking it. Now, for the next episode, we usually go back to our last poll, but since Saint Patrick’s Day is coming up, I decided to pick three questions related to it. When this video is done, you’ll get to vote on one: who was Saint Patrick, how is a rainbow made, or why are four-leaf clovers considered good luck? Submit your vote when the video is over. I want to hear from all of you watching. There are mysteries all around us. Stay curious, and see you next week.
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