Get tough on germs

Follow these handy hygiene hints to help protect your children and home from infection

As a parent or carer, you are probably well aware that young children have frequent colds and tummy upsets that keep them away from nursery or school. Figures show that young children can have as many as three times more colds than adults, and as many as three tummy upsets per year. There are several reasons why children tend to suffer more infections. Up to the age of five, the natural protection via the immune system is still developing. Children also tend to touch each other more often (for example, when they play) and, as a result, germs spread more easily between children than they do between adults.

The spread of germs

Germs that cause infection can spread easily around our homes. Our hands are often to blame. Every time we touch something or someone, we can transfer germs to and from that surface or person. Many germs can spread this way, including the ones that cause the common cold.

Although you cannot stop children picking germs up when they play or go to school, you can help reduce the risk of an infection spreading around your home by following a few simple hygiene tips.

Make hygiene a habit

One of the most important things you can do for your children is to teach them how and when to wash their hands. The best way to encourage children to wash their hands is to make sure you do it properly yourself. By the time children start school, they will be expected to know how and when to wash their hands. Studies show that children who wash their hands at the appropriate times miss less school due to illness than those who do not wash their hands.

How to wash your hands You can use the diagrams below to show your children how to wash their hands properly.
	Wet your hands under warm running water
	Apply a small amount of soap
	Rub your palms together – away from the water
	Rub your fingers and thumbs and the spaces between them
	Rub your nails on your palms
	Wash the back of each hand.
	Rinse the soap and germs away with clean running water.
	Dry your hands thoroughly on a clean dry towel.

When should we wash our hands?

You should teach your children to wash their hands:

• before eating or handling food after using the toilet
• after coughing and sneezing
• after handling pets or other animals whenever they look dirty

In addition to the above, you should wash your hands:

• immediately after touching raw food (for example, poultry, meat, vegetables)
• after changing a nappy
• after contact with body fluids (for example, blood, faeces, vomit)
• after touching a dirty surface (for example, rubbish bin, cleaning cloth)
• before and after giving first aid or handling any medicines

Teach good hygiene at home

Even very young children can pick up a basic understanding of good hygiene by watching you. Set a good example and make sure you follow the common sense rules that help protect you and your family.

Hygiene hints for the home

In the kitchen

Remember to:

• Wash your hands before handling food and immediately after handling highrisk raw foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and raw vegetables
• Clean kitchen work surfaces, with an appropriate disinfectant cleaner, before using them to prepare food and immediately after contact with raw foods
• It is important to keep kitchen surfaces and utensils hygienically clean. Small items can be kept clean by washing in hot water and detergent and rinsing them thoroughly with clean water. For larger items and fixed surfaces that cannot be washed in the sink, use an appropriate disinfectant cleaner
• Surfaces that you often touch with your hands, such as fridge handles, doorknobs and waste bin lids need to be cleaned regularly
• Microwaves and fridges should be cleared of food debris and wiped with an appropriate cleaning product
• Clean high chairs and plastic bibs with an appropriate disinfectant cleaner before every meal
• Don’t forget to empty, clean and disinfect the kitchen bin regularly
• Use a disposable cloth or wipe if possible. Reusing dirty cloths will just spread more germs around your home

 

In the bathroom

Germs can be found on surfaces that are frequently touched, such as:

• flush handles
• toilet seats
• taps
• doorknobs
• waste bins.

These surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly. Germs can grow rapidly on things like flannels, towels and toothbrushes if you allow them to stay damp. Make sure that you dry things quickly to help prevent germs growing on them.

 

 

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