Wash your hands and keep germs at bay

CHILDREN should be taught the ABC of hand-washing and food safety before they go back to school, according to Safefood.

Hand-washing is still the single most effective means of preventing the spread of micro-organisms.

And the lesson is straightforward, the food safety promotion board points out.

lAlways wash hands after going to the bathroom and before eating food.

lBottles for drinks and lunch boxes should be cleaned with warm soapy water daily.

lClean and clear out lunch boxes every day.

Barney Whelan of Safefood says research shows that more than one in three people do not wash their hands after going to the toilet, and younger age groups were even less likely to wash their hands after visiting the bathroom.

One study showed that children who washed their hands four times a day missed 51% fewer school days due to upset stomach and 24% fewer days due to respiratory illness than those who washed less did.

“Our objective is to change current hand-washing behaviour so that more people know and do wash their hands properly,” says Mr Whelan.

Unfortunately, some people still don’t realise that the drink bottle is also a breeding ground for thirsty germs.

Drinks bottles tend to get thrown into the bottom of gym bags, left on football pitches or playgrounds and, when used, tends to be passed between thirsty friends or team-mates.

Instead of taking extra care over washing them, most people usually just fill them up again. It is vital that bottles and lunch boxes are emptied and thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water every day, says Mr Whelan. “It’s really just common sense,” he adds.

Also, Safefood do not recommend “reusing” products, such as yoghurts or cheeses that have not been eaten the day before. They should be binned.

Knowing when to wash hands is important, too. Obviously, they should be washed when dirty and after using the toilet. Both adults and children should wash before eating, after being outdoors, after playing with pets and after coughing, sneezing or blowing their noses.

Hands should be washed with warm, running water and soap. Soaped hands should be rubbed together to make a lather. They should be washed, front and back, for at least 10 to 20 seconds before being rinsed.

Hands should be dried on a clean towel, preferably a paper towel that should be disposed of carefully afterwards.