Teaching children to wash their hands from an early age could save children and their parents from unnecessary sick days, according to a new study.
Many different types of bacteria, including some commonly found in poo, were discovered on everyday items during a scientific investigation, highlighting the importance of hand hygiene to prevent passing on microbes that can cause illness.
The investigation was led by the Champs Public Health Collaborative, a partnership between the Directors of Public and Population Health across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Scientists found microbes, including those often found in faeces, living on surfaces in soft play centres, outdoor playgrounds, and children’s toys in the home.
The Directors of Public and Population Health commissioned the study of 300 parents and carers after independent research over the summer showed how 74% had to take time off work to look after their sick children during the last 12 months.
Almost two thirds (62%) of those surveyed said they often catch illnesses from their children, while 64% said they worry about how much school their children will miss when poorly.
As part of the study, parents were also quizzed on how they encourage children to help stop the spread of illnesses, with two fifths (41%) admitting that they often struggled to get their little ones to wash their hands regularly.
Introducing Simple Things – Little Ones Can Help Keep Us All Well
Now, a new campaign, Simple Things – Little Ones Can Help Keep Us All Well, asks parents and carers to remind children to wash their hands after going to the toilet, before eating, and after coughing or sneezing. It also urges them to cough or sneeze into the crook of their elbow to help reduce the spread of winter illnesses.
Professor Helen Bromley, lead Director of Public Health for Health Protection in Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “Our findings show that it’s impossible to avoid coming into contact with various germs in our daily lives. But, it’s essential that our children continue to play at home and go to playgrounds and play centres, as these activities are an integral part of their wellbeing and development.
“Our latest campaign simply reminds parents to make sure their children wash their hands before eating and after the toilet to reduce the spread of colds and other bugs.”
As part of the analysis, scientists looked at 40 swabs from a range of items in public places, including equipment at outdoor playgrounds and soft play centres, and in the home such as a scooter, a bike and various toys.
Following examination, the samples featured many different kinds of bacteria, including microbes often found in human faeces and bugs that live on the skin which can cause infection in some cases.
Dr Adam Roberts, Reader in antimicrobial chemotherapy and resistance at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), and his team conducted the research.
Dr Roberts said: “We cannot get away from the fact that we are surrounded by bacteria all day, every day – and it is important to remember that not all bacteria are harmful and that it is completely normal to find many different microbes on almost everything we touch.
“However, some of these microbes found on high-touch surfaces have the potential to cause infection, particularly in those who already have a weakened immune system or who are elderly, for example.
“It’s not surprising that such bacteria were found on items that are mostly used by children, but the problems can occur when these bugs stay on our hands, transferring onto other surfaces and into our bodies when we eat.
“A microbe called Enterococcus, which is found in human faeces, is usually harmless but can of course lead to disease if given the right environment, such as bacteremia (an infection of the blood).
“We can reduce this impact though by washing our hands – particularly our children’s hands – after they have been to the toilet, before they eat and before they visit friends and relatives within our healthcare environments.”
For more information about the Simple Things – Little Ones Can Help Keep Us All Well campaign, visit: www.simplethings-nhs.com
