Have you ever wondered why your mother asks you to wash your hands before eating? Or why she tells you to drink only clean water? It is because tiny living things called germs can enter our body through dirty hands, unclean food, and contaminated water. These germs make us sick. Keeping ourselves and our surroundings clean is the best way to stay healthy.
Germs are tiny living things that are so small that we cannot see them with our eyes. We need a special instrument called a microscope to see them.
Germs are found everywhere -- in dirty water, on unwashed hands, on rotten food, in dust, and even in the air.
When germs enter our body, they grow and multiply. This makes us fall sick. The sickness caused by germs is called a disease.
Think about it: Germs are on door handles, money, and shared objects. That is why washing hands often is so important.
Germs can spread from one person to another in many ways:
| Way of Spreading | How It Happens |
|---|---|
| Dirty hands | Touching food or your face with unwashed hands after using the toilet or playing. |
| Contaminated water | Drinking water that has germs in it (from ponds, dirty taps, or uncovered tanks). |
| Flies and mosquitoes | Flies sit on garbage and then on our food. Mosquitoes bite us and spread diseases. |
| Sneezing and coughing | When a sick person sneezes or coughs, tiny droplets with germs spread in the air. |
| Unclean food | Eating uncovered, stale, or roadside food that has been touched by flies. |
| Sharing personal items | Using another person's towel, comb, or handkerchief can spread germs. |
| Disease | Caused By | Symptoms |
|---|---|---|
| Common Cold | Germs in the air (virus) | Sneezing, runny nose, sore throat |
| Flu (Influenza) | Virus spread through air | Fever, body ache, tiredness, cough |
| Diarrhoea | Dirty water or food | Loose motions, stomach pain, weakness |
| Malaria | Bite of female Anopheles mosquito | High fever with chills, headache |
| Dengue | Bite of Aedes mosquito | High fever, joint pain, rash |
Think about it: Malaria and dengue are spread by mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant (still) water. So we must not let water collect in pots, tyres, or coolers.
| Key Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Germs | Tiny living things that cause diseases; too small to see without a microscope. |
| Disease | A sickness caused when germs enter and grow in our body. |
| Contaminated | Made dirty or impure by germs or harmful substances. |
| Vaccination | An injection or dose that protects us from certain diseases. |
| Hygiene | Practices that keep us clean and healthy (handwashing, bathing, etc.). |
| Stagnant Water | Water that is still and not flowing; mosquitoes breed in it. |
Prevention means stopping diseases before they happen. Here are important ways to stay healthy:
1. Wash your hands -- with soap and water before eating, after using the toilet, and after playing.
2. Drink clean water -- always drink boiled or filtered water. Do not drink water from ponds or open taps.
3. Cover your food -- keep food covered to protect it from flies and dust.
4. Use mosquito nets -- sleep under a mosquito net or use mosquito repellent to avoid bites.
5. Do not let water collect -- empty coolers, pots, and old tyres so mosquitoes cannot breed.
6. Cover your mouth -- when sneezing or coughing, cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief.
7. Bathe daily -- take a bath every day, wear clean clothes, and cut your nails regularly.
8. Keep surroundings clean -- do not throw garbage on the road. Use dustbins.
A vaccine is a special medicine (usually given as an injection or drops) that protects our body from certain diseases. When we are vaccinated, our body learns to fight those germs.
Children in India are vaccinated against diseases like polio, measles, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis. The government runs vaccination drives in schools and health centres.
Think about it: You may have received polio drops as a baby. This vaccine protects you from the polio disease for life.
The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) was launched on 2 October 2014 by the Government of India. Its goal is to make India clean by building toilets, managing waste properly, and encouraging people to keep their surroundings clean.
As students, we can help by not littering, using dustbins, and keeping our school and neighbourhood clean.
A. Fill in the Blanks
B. Multiple Choice Questions
C. True or False
D. Short Answer Questions
Write a pledge (promise) of five things you will do every day to stay clean and healthy.
I, ________________________, promise to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.