Scrubby Bear

The Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program

Fewer colds
Effective against Hepatitis A
Effective in preventing Infectious Diarrhea
Promotes healthier children
Decreases school absenteeism

Good hand washing habits are not just for children!

The Scrubby Bear® hand washing program consists of materials developed to aid in instructing children as to the importance of good hand washing habits in preventing diseases such as Infectious Diarrhea, Hepatitis A, and colds. Scrubby Bear® reminds children and adults that infection can be fought through frequent hand washing. Scrubby is an immediate reminder to scrub your hands, reinforced by his message, “Don’t get sick, Wash up quick!” Children love Scrubby and really respond to his message. The program is most appropriate for children ages 4 through 7. Although the written and verbal materials are currently available in English only, they have been successfully used by schools, hospitals, health agencies and day care centers throughout the world.

Scrubby Bear® originally began at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pediatric Oncology Branch as “T. Bear”. T Bear was the symbol of a national initiative to remind children, parents, health care personnel, day care providers and educators that infection could be combated through frequent hand washing.

Based on its success at the NCI Pediatric Oncology Branch, the Department of Health and Human Services developed the concept into a national campaign with the goal of reducing the frequency of transmission of infections in day care centers, elementary schools, and hospitals across the country. In order to ensure the long-range success of the program, the Department established the “Scrubby Bear® Foundation” in 1984.

The American Red Cross obtained the rights (registered trade mark, copyrights, and intellectual property) from the Department of Health and Human Services in 1988 after the Scrubby Bear® Foundation was disbanded in 1987. A cooperative agreement was then negotiated between the American Red Cross and the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), a service of the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Institutes of Health to maintain the Scrubby Bear® program and plan for its future. Under that agreement, NDDIC was responsible for administering the program and responding to field inquiries until Scrubby Bear® could be incorporated into the American Red Cross Child Care Course. After careful consideration, it was determined that the full potential of Scrubby Bear® could only be realized if it were maintained as a separate program.

For more information please call us at (563)242-5223 or email us at info@gatewayredcross.org