Vital for children to wash their hands thoroughly
A visit to an open farm can be great fun for young children, but it’s vital that they receive help and guidance to help them avoid picking up potentially harmful infection. Effective hand hygiene is the key, according to advice recently issued on the North Yorkshire County Council website.
North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, Caroline Dickinson, is enthusiastic about the number of great open farms in the area, which provide an exciting and educational day out for young children. It is however, vitally important that teachers and carers address the issues of infection risk and do all that they can to help minimise it.
Effective hand washing – with soap and water
“You can easily reduce the risk of infection by washing your hands thoroughly with liquid soap and warm running water and drying them with disposable paper towels immediately after you have touched animals…” she advises.
And it’s soap and water that is very much the approved method of hand cleaning – and it must be done well, continued Ms Dickinson.
“Please supervise children closely to ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly, too. And do remember – hand gel or wipes are not a substitute for washing hands with warm running water.”
A number of useful tips have also been provided by Kathryn Ingold, Consultant in Public Health for North Yorkshire, who is quoted as saying
“…don’t eat or drink while touching animals or walking round the farm. This includes not eating sweets, crisps or chewing gum. Eat and drink in picnic areas or cafes only”.
Stay safe on farm visits »
Easy to use portable hand washing sinks for children – perfect for farm visits!
Hand washing is the most important lesson a child can learn and acquiring it is an essential lifelong skill. A Kiddiwash Xtra or KiddiSynk portable hand washing sink can be positioned right next to the sand pit – helping to ensure that children dramatically reduce the risk of infection as they finish play.
The Kiddiwash range of warm water hand wash units are perfect for smaller hands – and are ideal where a portable solution is required.
Whether you require a larger wheeled unit such as the KiddiSynk, or the ultra portable Kiddiwash Xtra, you can ensure that all children in your care are able to wash their hands whether inside or out.
Free EYFS downloads for preschool, nursery
There is a number of PDF documents that will help to educate and entertain the children in your care: they all have a hand washing theme. They are free to use and distribute for everyone.
