HEALTH & SAFETY: It’s Germ Season

Stopping the spread of germs: Good hygiene is important to prevent the spread of illness. Many germs (bacterial and viral) are spread from person to person simply through touch (e.g., germs are on your hands after you touch a toy a sick child has been playing with). It is important to regularly wash hands thoroughly, especially when caring for children who are unwell. What are germs? There are many different types of germs, including viruses and bacteria. Germs can make people sick.

· You can get germs on your hands when you touch objects and when you touch other people.

· Once germs are on your hands, they can get inside your body through a wound or when you touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

· You can also spread germs on your hands to objects or people you touch. Most common infections, such as colds or gastroenteritis (gastro), are spread through touching.

· Germs can also spread through the air when an unwell person coughs and sneezes.

How to stop the spread of germs: Washing hands: Washing your hands and your children's hands is the best thing you can do to stop the spread of germs. It is particularly important to wash your hands, and teach your child to wash their hands and do it correctly. We all got pretty good at washing our hands during the peak of the Covid pandemic, it may be time for e a refresher. How to wash your hands:

1. Wet your hands.

2. Apply soap or hand wash and rub your hands for 15–20 seconds – you can tell children this is as long as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice.

3. Make sure you wash the back of the hands, wrists, between the fingers and under fingernails.

4. Rinse and dry with a clean towel. Antibacterial soaps are not required and do not reduce the chance of getting an infection – ordinary soaps are

Other good hygiene habits Good hygiene reduces the chance of catching illnesses or passing them onto others. Good hygiene includes:

· not sharing cups, cutlery or personal items like toothbrushes

· encouraging children to cough or sneeze into their elbow

· using tissues instead of hankies – teach your child to throw tissues into the bin as soon as they have used them and to wash their hands afterwards.

You have COVID-19 symptoms. It is especially important to get a test if you are at higher risk of severe illness. This is so that you can access early treatment including antiviral medicines. You live with someone who has COVID-19. Test regularly for at least 7 days, even if you do not develop symptoms. This is very important if you are at higher risk of severe illness or are in contact with people at higher risk of severe illness launch. See advice for people exposed to COVID-19 for more information about what to do.

If you are at higher risk of severe illness and have any new symptoms within 4 weeks of recovering from COVID-19, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may recommend further testing including for other viruses such as influenza.

Key points to remember

· It is important to regularly wash hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of illness.

· Wash hands for 15–20 seconds or as long as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday' twice.

· Encourage children to cough or sneeze into their elbow, and to use tissues instead of hankies.

· If your child is unwell with a virus or bacterial illness, keep them home from childcare, kindergarten or school until they are well again. Use hot, soapy water to wash items (e.g., toys, teething rings) that a sick child has been in contact with during their illness.