There's a dirty little secret at some area schools.

Kids are not washing their hands after using the restroom -- which, admittedly, is not breaking news.

But there's an explanation.

One student at Tuckahoe Middle School in Henrico County, who wishes to remain anonymous lest her friends and parents think her unclean, admits it: If it's too cold outside, even ordinarily fastidious students won't wash after using the restroom.

Tuckahoe, like several other schools in the county, does not have warm running water in the restrooms. The campus-style architecture means students go directly from classrooms or restrooms to the outdoors. There are no interior halls. Three middle and three high schools are affected.

On chilly mornings, the choice between cleanliness and warmth can be difficult, and many prefer a few germs to icicles.

Bruce Richardson is a member of the East End Communities United for Change, a group that brings issues facing schools in Henrico's eastern end to light. He is a crusader for clean hands.

"I interact on a daily basis with teenagers. I coach youth sports." he said. "And the first question I raise is, 'Have you washed your hands?'"

Richardson initially thought the cold-water problem was limited to Fairfield Middle, a campus-style school built in 1958. He didn't seem relieved to hear it was more widespread.

A healthy schools initiative, www. itsasnap.org, also is maneuvering for meticulous mitts. According to the Web site, nearly 22 million school days are lost annually because of the common cold, often preventable by a thorough scrub.

In a school year like this one, where colds and flu hit children and adults hard, every ounce of prevention helps.

"We say you should wash hands with warm, soapy water," said Charles Ford, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Health.

It takes more than a quick rinse to kill germs. Soap and time are essential.

Many children, who feel that a quick splash should suffice, aren't likely to keep hands under cold running water for a full 20 seconds, especially before going outside in nippy weather.

Many older schools throughout the Richmond area have only cold water in restrooms, but few, if any, require students to exit directly into the outdoors.

An alternative to handwashing would be to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, Ford said. Many teachers keep such products in classrooms.

Generations of students have survived with cold water at older campuses. And as the schools eventually are renovated, warm water will be added. But running new pipes and then tearing them out would not be a good use of financial resources, said Armando de Leon, Henrico assistant superintendent of operations.

"The hot water is not really an issue. Just getting people to wash their hands is more crucial than anything," he said.

Contact Lisa Crutchfield at (804) 649-6362 or lcrutchfield@timesdispatch.com.