Several schools have been affected across Yorkshire
Public Health England Yorkshire and Humber’s health protection personnel have been liaising with local authorities across the county as a result of outbreaks of ‘flu and “other winter viral illnesses” in a number of schools, according to a recent report on the Yorkshire Evening Post website.
Holy Name Catholic Voluntary Academy underwent a deep clean after an apparent ‘flu outbreak writes Joe Cooper. The school is one of a number of in the area where pupils have been off with “sickness and ‘flu-like symptoms.”
Holy Name’s Head of School, Aisling Wells, has recognised the importance of effective hand hygiene, says the report.
“…we also sent an educational video on the importance of hand washing to our teachers so that they could share it with the pupils…”
The importance of hand washing
The spread of “most infectious illnesses” is limited as a result of effective and timely hand washing, says the article.
“Children should be encouraged to wash their hands frequently with warm water and soap, particularly after using the toilet, after using a tissue to catch a cough or sneeze, and before eating.”
Washing your hands is one of the easiest ways to protect yourself and others from illnesses such as food poisoning and flu advises the NHS.
Watch this video to find out the best way to wash your hands.
50 children off sick after flu-like virus outbreak at Leeds school »
Teach children how to wash their hands properly – wherever they are!
Hand washing is the most important lesson a child can learn and acquiring it is an essential lifelong skill.
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