It's that time of year again, when the back to school germs are flying around. There's coughs and colds galore, and of course, my nemesis, the stomach bug.
I like to remind our family of the importance of good hand hygiene so that we can do our absolute best to prevent the spread of germs. I thought I would share with you some of the things that we do to make sure that we have good hand and food hygiene both at home and outside the home.
Food preparation
There are several difference bacteria that can be found on food that can cause nasty stomach bugs. There is campylobacter, salmonella, e.coli, listeria and shigella to name a few. It's really important that whenever you are preparing food you wash your hands thoroughly. My children all know that before they help in the kitchen they must wash their hands and if I am preparing meat for someone else I will wear disposable nitrile gloves. Make sure also that you wash all fresh fruit and vegetables to rid them of germs and any lingering chemicals.
Handling Money
It's been well reported that money is particularly germy. There are more germs on a £1 coin than you find on the average toilet seat. That's why regular hand washing is really important and especially where children are concerned it's really important that they learn not to put their hands into their mouths, especially after handling money.
Keep a Clean Home
Cleaning has become fashionable again following some of the amazing instagram accounts inspiring people to clean their homes (Mrs Hinch!). There are some things in your home that are particularly prone to harbouring germs and bacteria so do pay particular attention to these things and make sure that they are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
- Dish sponges/ dish cloths
- Kitchen sinks
- Toothbrush holders
- Pet bowls
- Coffee maker reservoirs
- Taps
- Pet toys
- Kitchen counters
- Stove knobs
- Chopping boards
I always wear gloves when I am cleaning to protect my hands from hot water and harsh chemicals and it also helps to prevent the spread of germs too.
School germs
Germs are rife in schools because so many children have bad hand washing techniques. Teach your children how to wash their hands properly and make sure they wash their hands before snack time and lunch. I pop a small antibacterial gel into their lunchboxes so that they can clean their hands before they eat if they have forgotten to wash them. I also make sure that they wash their hands as soon as they come home from school. Once it's part of your routine it will become just another part of your day.
Brosch Direct, a healthcare and janitorial company have put together really informative magazine based around the concepts of germs & how they can be transferred from hands to food if a lack of protection is in place. The magazine looks at food hygiene, hand hygiene, types of germs and how to protect your hands. It's well worth a read as it contains some scary facts about germs and some useful tips on how to protect yourselves using hand washing techniques and protective gloves.
Did you find this post useful? Share it with your friends and family or Pin it for later...
Leave a Reply