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5-year-old
Hayden loves petting the farm animals…
So does 6-year old john….
But do they know what to do after they’re done?
“Say goodbye,” says John.
Maybe… but more importantly…
“They have germs on them and them… you need to wash
your hands,” says Hayden.
That point was made again this spring after dozens of children
were infected with e-coli bacteria after visiting petting zoos
in Florida.
“The animal is contaminated with it’s own bacteria
even when it’s healthy. And many of those bacteria are dangerous,
pathologic… can cause disease to human beings,” says
Pediatrician Mark Tanenbaum, M.D.
So, is it too risky to take your child to a petting zoo?
“Well crossing the street is a risk but we don’t
hesitate to cross the street. We learn how to do it properly,” says
Dr. Tanenbaum.
And ‘properly’ means three crucial steps, he says.
One: Avoid any petting zoo where the animals seem dirty or sick.
Two: Make sure your kids know not to put their fingers in their
mouth after touching the animals.
Three: Before they leave, they have to wash their hands thoroughly
with soap and water.
“Running water and soap and paper towels, that’s
the way to go,” says Dr. Tanenbaum.
With the right precautions, many experts and parents agree: taking
a child to the petting zoo is worth the very small risk.
“They don’t have many opportunities to be around
live animals,” explains John’s mother, Jennifer Roorbach, “And
I think that’s important. Just give them a better sense of
the world and the different things out there.”
Dr. Tanenbaum agrees, “I think we should strive to appreciate
the diversity of life on this planet… while we continue
to wash our hands as we do so.”
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