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When Bridget Pfaff was a student at Evergreen Elementary in Holmen, she undoubtedly learned a few lessons about hand-washing and preventing illness. These days, Pfaff is the clinical manager of infection control at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and shares her insights with youngsters whenever she gets the chance.

Last week, Pfaff was back at Evergreen Elementary to give a talk about germs and infection to several fourth-grade classes.

During her presentation Pfaff’s discussed germs and medical issues in terms understandable to fourth-graders. “I try to bring it down to there level as much as I can. I show them why they don’t need to be afraid of the doctor, why shots can be important, how to stay healthy and avoid infection,” Pfaff said.

She began by explaining to the class how she had attended Evergreen Elementary, how she had gone on to college to study microbiology and what her job is now at Gundersen Lutheran.

“I look at how to avoid infections in the hospital,” Pfaff told the fourth-graders.

Last year, Pfaff’s son Robert was a fourth-grader in the audience. This year, Robert, now a fifth-grader at Evergreen, volunteered to help his mother by modeling medical garb to show the class why doctors and medical workers dress the way that they do.

The fourth graders enjoyed the part of Pfaff’s presentation where she showed them “pretend germs.” Using a powder visible only under black light — she demonstrated how hands that look clean can actually be carrying lots of germs. She related that fact to the medical garb Robert was wearing in order to demonstrate why doctors have to be extra careful so that they don’t carry infections from one patient to another.

She also emphasized how important hand washing is to prevent the spread of germs, and she encouraged students to always wash their hands thoroughly.

Pfaff talked about E. coli, meningitis, Lyme disease and other dangers. Judging by the questions they asked, the students were particularly fascinated by the deadliest germs. “What the worst infection in the world?” asked one boy.

“That’s kind of hard to say, but, for me, Ebola is the scariest. No one knows what causes it or where it comes from,” Pfaff said. “Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about it here because it’s an African virus.”

When students questioned how germs get into the body, Pfaff reassured them that the skin is very efficient at preventing germs from getting inside and that, unless we have open sores or cuts, our bodies will do a good job of protecting us from serious infection.

“I try not to scare them, but even at this age kids are starting to pay attention to things like bird flu,” Pfaff said.

The Infection Control Department at Gundersen Lutheran has speakers available. Anyone interested in a similar presentation at their school can call the department at 775-6810.