Back to school: New shoes, new friends, new germs!
Summer is over for another year and as children settle back into school, parents across Northern Ireland will be breathing an exhausted sigh of relief. But they may be back at home before you know it, suffering from one of the many common illnesses that can be picked up in the school setting. The Public Health Agency (PHA) is therefore reminding parents about the importance of good hygiene for their children – both in school and at home.
Schools are a common breeding ground for germs and bugs. Make sure your child is taking the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of picking up or spreading germs to others when you send them off to start the new school term.
Parents and schools can help reduce the spread of viruses by encouraging children to practice good personal hygiene by:
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet;
- Washing hands thoroughly with soap and warm water before eating at break and lunch times;
- Teaching children not to unnecessarily touch their eyes, nose or mouth during the day;
- Teaching children to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and to use a tissue which is disposed of quickly and carefully in a bin;
- Teaching children it is good to share, but not to share drinks, food or lip balm;
- Making sure your child carries tissues at all times;
- Using an alcohol-based hand gel or wipe when hand washing is not possible, such as at school events or during field trips.
Parents can also help reduce the spread of infection by thoroughly cleaning lunchboxes each day and supervising children as they clean out their schoolbags on a regular basis. Use a wet cloth or wipe to remove dripped liquids and food crumbs from schoolbags. Parents are also reminded to keep children at home if they are sick.
Dr Lourda Geoghegan, Consultant in Health Protection at the PHA, said: “Bugs and germs are often found in school and these can be easily passed from child to child.
“Effective hand washing is one of the most important tools in preventing many illnesses. Clean hands are vital in controlling the spread of infections, and other illnesses such as food poisoning and seasonal ‘flu.
“Hand washing with soap and water will reduce the risk of picking up these infections and by following the simple steps above we can help to avoid illness and keep our children at health and happy at school.”
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