Lion Launches New Experiential Hygiene Program, “Do Your Part with Clean Habits! Produced by KireiKirei” Targeting 120,000 People at 2,000 Day-Care Centers, Nursery Schools and Elementary Schools Across Japan ｜News Release

Oct. 15, 2021 Sustainability

Coinciding with Global Handwashing Day (Friday, October 15, 2021), Lion Corporation (President: Masazumi Kikukawa) has begun accepting applications for participation in a new experiential hygiene program, “Do Your Part with Clean Habits! Produced by KireiKirei.” Under this program, Lion will distribute hygiene-related educational materials for self-directed learning along with hand soap and sanitizing gel to day-care centers, nursery schools and elementary schools across Japan. Lion aims to contribute to the practice of better hygiene habits through the program. Details about the application process for day-care centers, nursery schools and elementary school interested in participating are provided below.
* Applications will no longer be accepted once the maximum number of participants is reached.

1. Objective

Lion seeks to help create healthy living habits, focusing on hand hygiene, to realize a happier, healthier society. Recently, society at large and the environments surrounding children have been changing constantly. Amid such change, the teachers and other staff of day-care centers, nursery schools and elementary schools, with whom guardians entrust their children, are working hard to keep children safe from infection while continuing educational activities.
In light of these circumstances, Lion created the “Do Your Part with Clean Habits! Produced by KireiKirei” program to help children, their guardians and teachers live and learn while having fun. The program is aimed at fostering a correct understanding of the purpose and importance of hand washing and sanitizing as well as nurturing self-directed hygiene and cleanliness habits. It utilizes educational content for day-care centers, nursery schools and elementary schools that Lion has been offering since 2012. Going forward, Lion will continue to provide educational materials that answer such questions as “When should we use wash our hands versus using hand sanitizer?” and “When should we use gel hand sanitizer versus using spray hand sanitizer?” (from a 2021 Lion survey) and address concerns or issues expressed by instructors participating in this program. In this way, we hope to help promote the practice of good hygiene habits.

2. Program Overview

・Eligible participants:	Day-care centers, nursery schools, elementary schools, and after-school children’s clubs (after-school day-care)
・Eligible area:	Nationwide
・Cost:	Free
・Materials provided:	・Classroom educational materials Materials aimed at improving hygiene habits for day-care centers/nursery schools and for elementary schools are available. Materials will be provided by download. ・Home-use hygiene habit educational kit (60 flyers,^1 60 stickers^2) 1. Flyers showing hand washing techniques 2. Label stickers that children can embellish themselves and apply over the labels of foaming hand soap or sanitizing gel bottles ・KireiKirei* products ・KireiKirei Medicated Foaming Hand Soap large-size bottles: 1 case (12 bottles) ・KireiKirei Medicated Hand Gel: 1 case (24 bottles)

3. How to Apply

Application period	October 15 to November 30, 2021
Close of enrollment	Applications will no longer be accepted once the maximum number of participants is reached.
Who can apply	Applications will be accepted on behalf of day-care centers, nursery schools, elementary schools, and after-school children’s clubs (after-school day-care). ・Applications should be submitted by teachers or other representatives of day-care centers, nursery schools and elementary schools in Japan. The educational materials, application process and other communications will be in Japanese. Applications submitted by children, their guardians, etc., will not be accepted.
Where to apply	https://go-lion.jp/Kireikirei017

◆Instructors’ frequently asked questions related to Lion’s educational programs

◎When should we use wash our hands versus using hand sanitizer?
It is always better to wash your hands if you have access to the facilities to do so (clean running water, etc.). Regular hand washing is important to prevent bacteria and viruses from entering the body. A Lion survey found that fewer than 40% of respondents consistently wash their hands with soap before eating at home (2021).^*3 Germ-carrying grime on the hands can easily enter the body when eating, so it is important to always remember to wash your hands with soap before eating a meal or snack.
*3. Reference: October 6, 2021 news release “Survey of Hand Washing Habits During the COVID-19 Pandemic” (Japanese)
https://lion-corp.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/tmg_block_page_image/file/7726/20211006.pdf

Hand sanitizers are a good alternative to hand washing when you do not have access to clean running water. Lion also recommends using hand sanitizers after hand washing for small children who may not yet be able to wash their hands effectively, or when there is not enough time for thorough hand washing.

◎When should we use gel hand sanitizer versus using spray hand sanitizer?
Gel sanitizers are less prone to spattering and cling to the surface of the hands. This makes gel sanitizers less likely to, for example, spatter into children’s eyes when used at day-care centers. Because they cling effectively to the hands, they should be used before and after touching shared objects, such as toys.
Spray hand sanitizers are easy to quickly spread all across the hands and dry rapidly, so they are convenient when you want to quickly use your hands for something else after sanitizing. Lion mainly recommends spray sanitizers for use in place of hand washing when coming inside from outdoors. They are a good option when arriving at school or day-care, after recess or when entering the classroom.

In addition to the questions and answers provided here, the answers to other questions received through the program will be incorporated into educational materials for distribution going forward.

The Lion Group will continue to work alongside consumers to contribute to the realization of hygienic living throughout society through the creation of living habits centered around hygiene.