Expel the germs in schools this back-to-school season

18 Oct 2016

Deb is working towards catalysing behaviour change in schools with a range of brightly coloured and attractive soap dispensers, which are designed to help engage children in the hand washing process

As hundreds of thousands of children return to their classrooms after the summer holidays and come into close contact with others, the chance of exposure to germs and bacteria is increased, so raising the risk of illness.

Effective hand hygiene is universally recognised as the smartest means to conquer this threat. Yet, a survey by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine unearthed that only 63.8% of primary school pupils regularly washed their hands with soap at school, a figure which dropped to 39% for secondary school pupils.

Lack of education about handwashing with soap can contribute to the spread of infections in schools, and negatively impact absenteeism, with illnesses accounting for almost 60% of all absences across schools in England.

“Education about regular handwashing with soap should be a priority for every educational establishment in the country,” said Paul Jakeway, Marketing Director at Deb.

“Encouraging children from an early age, and getting them into the habit of washing their hands as part of their school day, will help ensure that this practice becomes part of their lifelong routine. The back-to-school season is the perfect moment to raise the bar on hand hygiene education.”

In primary and secondary schools, the importance of handwashing with soap should be integrated into the curriculum as part of the personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE). However, this aspect of hygiene education is not always taught effectively.

80% of all infections are transmitted by hands1,and germs can stay alive on hands for up to three hours, but many schoolchildren are unaware of the importance of correct and thorough hand washing, or the impact it may have on their health.

Teachers and parents can further promote hand hygiene awareness and compliance if they lead by example and are seen to wash their own hands frequently throughout the day, using the proper technique.

Deb is working towards catalysing behaviour change in schools with a range of brightly coloured and attractive soap dispensers, which are designed to help engage children in the hand washing process. Dispensing systems are more hygienic, economical and environmentally-friendly than bar soap or bulk fill systems, and easy to operate for children.

In addition to dispensers and a comprehensive range of skin care products, Deb provides schools with a range of training and educational materials to help schools make the washing procedure at school fun, engaging, and memorable.