New guidelines issued on the importance of handwashing

New guidelines from the National Insitute for Health and Care Excellence recommends that all children from the age of preschool should be taught how to wash and dry their hands properly. The reasons for this is to prevent the spread of infections and reduce the need for antibiotics. 

Many children will visit the toilet and quickly wash their hands, often forgetting to use soap. It is professionals working in an environment such as nurseries and other early years settings to ensure children are washing and drying their hands properly. 

How in your setting to do you promote the importance of handwashing? Here are a few top tips;

1. Display handwashing posters in the areas where children and adults wash their hands
2. Display or hand out information to parents about handwashing
3. Ensure there are sufficient facilities for handwashing eg liquid soap, warm water and hand drying facilities e.g., paper towels or hand dryers.
4. Regular talk to children about why they should thoroughly wash and dry their hands
5. Management to regualr carry out checks to ensure there are high standards of food hygiene being demonstrated

To read more about the new guidelines click here