Nursery World - A Unique Child: Handwashing

We should all be doing it more often and more carefully - especially in nurseries, where better handwashing could drastically reduce infections, says Ruth Thomson.

Handwashing may seem a simple, routine part of our day, but with a national campaign and global initiative dedicated to it, it may be time we gave it more attention.

'Washing your hands properly with soap and warm water is the single most important thing you can do to help reduce the spread of infections and help protect you, your family and those around you,' according to Healthy Protection Scotland, which has just relaunched its handwashing campaign.

That message was brought home to people this winter with the lightning spread of the Norovirus, which affected 2.8 million people (200,000 a week). Once again the advice - this time from Health Protection Agency epidemiologist Professor Martyn Regan - was the same: 'Thorough handwashing is vital in preventing the spread of Norovirus and other gastro-intestinal infections.'

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