Hand washing

Officer’s from the Environmental Health team have carried out and continue to undertake hand washing talks in schools on a monthly rolling programme from September to March each year and during National Food Safety Week, usually held the second week of June each year.

The talks raise awareness of how hands can spread germs, highlighting that hands that have not been washed and dried properly can easily spread germs invisible to the naked eye.

The Directorate has been involved in the awareness raising initiative in Salford’s primary schools, to explain the purpose and importance of why children need to carry out good hand washing. The children are able to get involved in practical demonstrations using a special lotion rubbed into the hands, which fluoresces when hands are placed in a special cabinet; any remaining lotion on the hands glows after hand washing to highlight areas which were missed after hand washing.

All children are provided with a pre questionnaire to assess their initial understanding of the importance of hand washing and again at the end of the talks, in order for officers to evaluate the success of the event.

Further details can be obtained by contacting the Environment Directorate.