Hand washing
Good hygiene continues to be the best prevention against infectious diseases – including washing hands regularly and thoroughly, covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and ensuring your environment is clean.
Wiltshire schools are asked to regularly look at the Right Choice website where updates, information and guidance is posted.
The DfE has also set up a helpline offering guidance for anyone with education-related questions which is open 8am to 6pm
For any queries not covered by the information below, please contact the information hub at publichealth@wiltshire.gov.uk or tel 0300 456 0100 .
Hand washing is one of the most important ways of controlling the spread of infections, especially those that cause diarrhoea and vomiting and respiratory disease.
Liquid soap, warm water and paper towels are recommended.
Advise all staff and pupils to wash their hands after using the toilet, before eating or handling food and after touching animals.
Cover all cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing.
Coughs and sneezes spread diseases. Children and adults should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue and wash hands after using or disposing of tissues.
Handwashing case studies
Several Wiltshire schools have chosen handwashing as part of their Healthy Schools work and monitored the impact for children.
Wiltshire Healthy Schools handwashing case study:
This lesson plan from Public Health England has been delivered in Wiltshire schools, using a UV torch and gel.
Borrow a Glow and Show Kit
Glow and Show kits consist of a hand-held UV light and iridescent powder and cream. The powder and cream simulate germs. The ease with which germs can be spread is demonstrated by putting either the cream or powder on hands and participants then touch their surroundings or colleagues.
Schools, and other organisations, can borrow a Glow and Show kit from Wootton Bassett, Salisbury or Trowbridge libraries. Details, including an application form, can be found here.
Resources
- e-Bug (Ages 5-18)
Includes many practical resources to address hand hygiene for primary and secondary schools
Visual display of the importance of handwashing using bread
Various activities for children and simple messages about germs and hand washing
Training
- Beat the Bugs - train the trainer
This free Train the Trainer course is designed for community settings, such as schools, care homes and anywhere hygiene and microbe awareness is important.
It is fun, interactive and informative. The attendees will learn basic information about microbes and how they spread; how to stop the spread and personal hygiene and self-care. It is a 3-hour course exploring different tools and resources enabling the attendees to either train others or use elements of the package to inform and educate others. There are elements that can be used with both adults and children.
For further details of this training please contact katie.smith@wiltshire.gov.uk
Alternatively for details of future e-bug training dates please email e-Bug@phe.gov.uk
Global Hand Washing Day
