Recalcitrant hand-washers, beware! Earnest messages are on the way!

Those nasty villains -- among them Bac, E. Coli, Sal Monella and Campy Lobacter (get it? huh? do you? huh?) -- are at it again! But not to fear! The Scrub Club is here to help!

With "webisodes," games, theme songs and heck, an entire make-believe world, the new website scrubclub.org is meant to drive home the message -- in full-cartoon, kid-beckoning, attention-riveting color -- that kids should wash their hands, and, by extension, help prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Says the description of the characters: "Each of the Scrub Club Soaper-Heroes represents one of the six steps in the handwashing process -- 'Hot Shot' and 'Chill' combine to make the warm water essential for proper handwashing; 'Squeaks' turns into various forms of soap; 'Taki' becomes a clock that counts down the required 20 seconds for proper handwashing; 'Scruff' reminds kids to clean around their nails; 'Tank' turns into a sink to rinse away the germs and 'P.T.' transforms into paper towels. Interactive games, including the one that features the evil villain 'Influenza Enzo -- Stop Fluin' Around,' teach children how illnesses are spread and how to prevent them."

NSF International gets an A for effort, but ... kids are fairly adept at distinguishing between the well-intentioned and the truly entertaining.

You'd think a generation that grew up throwing important-message coloring and comic books under the bed upon receipt would know this.

-- Tami Dennis

Photo: What's so hard about "Wash your hands or you'll get sick and miss your play date with Drew? Credit: Thomas Lohnes / AFP /Getty Images

Comments

[SLT]

I wish someone would make a video like this for adults, and then force everyone at my office to watch it.

Also, one for the gym that shows the importance of covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough? To be played during the afternoon rush? I would love that film.

But, I still don't think it would work...