Reduce E. coli Risk
A study by anti-bacterial hand hygiene brand Cuticura reveals that we can easily pick up over 10 million bacteria on our hands including E. coli.
Teaching toddlers about the dangers of poor hand hygiene can be a really tricky task but it is really worth investing the time and effort as good hand washing habits can reduce the risk of diarrhoeal disease by 42 – 47% the study reveals.
"There is a real risk of our kids picking up bacteria such as E. coli on their hands which could lead to symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea, nausea, fever and in extreme cases haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Hand hygiene is extremely important; you can help them to prevent bacteria collecting on their hands by encouraging them to wash thoroughly with soap and water and using an antibacterial hand gel like Cuticura to protect them from picking up unwanted nasties such as E. coli” Dr Lisa Ackerley, Environmental Health Practitioner and Visiting Professor of Environmental Health at Salford University
Cuticura kills 99.99% of E. coli* within a 20 seconds contact time, and is the perfect solution for helping to prevent infection. Great to keep in the car or your bag, Cuticura is non-sticky, fast and effective.
Expert Advice for Reducing The Risk of E. coli, by Dr Lisa Ackerley
1. Always make sure children wash their hands after using the toilet – it’s amazing how many people don’t! Supervise them doing it and make sure they use soap and wash thoroughly – the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday to you” twice is about right
2. Do not allow children to share bath water with anyone who has any signs of diarrhoea or 'stomach flu'. And keep any toddlers still in nappies out of splash parks, wading and swimming pools. If you have a paddling pool at home, empty it daily and re-fill when you need it – don’t let it become a bacterial soup!
3. Lead by example, always wash hands with soap and water and an antibacterial hand hygiene gel. When you can’t use a wash basin, carry an antibacterial hand hygiene gel with you so that you can use it before eating, after going to the toilet, handling animals or changing nappies
4. If looking after someone with diarrhoea, encourage them to wash their hands thoroughly, disinfect surfaces such as taps, flush handles and door handles in the bathroom and make sure they use their own hand-towel, and launder their clothes at 90 °C if possible.
5. Avoid eating undercooked meat, in particular minced beef, and ensure ground meat products such as burgers are cooked to an internal temperature of 75°C – never eat them rare as the contamination from the outside surface of the meat will be spread through to the centre of these products (unlike a rare steak, where the outside surface is seared)
6. Wash hands with soap and water and use an antibacterial hand gel before and after preparing and cooking food
7. Be careful to prevent cross-contamination by cleaning and disinfecting food preparation equipment such as cutting boards and utensils after contact with raw meats, poultry and unwashed salads and vegetables. If putting equipment in the dishwasher, use a hot wash. 30 or 40 °C will allow bacteria to actually multiply, not kill them!
8. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
9. Don’t drink unpasturised milk or juices
10. If you or anyone in your family has bloody diarrhoea, seek immediate medical attention
Don’t underestimate the dangers. Poor hand hygiene could be the cause of a staggering 173 million sick days off work in the UK costing the economy £10 billion a year the study reveals. It is estimated that 75% of illnesses resulting in sick days could have stemmed from poor hand hygiene habits.
*Results from BS EN1276 bacterial activity test
A study by anti-bacterial hand hygiene brand Cuticura reveals that we can easily pick up over 10 million bacteria on our hands including E. coli.
Teaching toddlers about the dangers of poor hand hygiene can be a really tricky task but it is really worth investing the time and effort as good hand washing habits can reduce the risk of diarrhoeal disease by 42 – 47% the study reveals.
"There is a real risk of our kids picking up bacteria such as E. coli on their hands which could lead to symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea, nausea, fever and in extreme cases haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Hand hygiene is extremely important; you can help them to prevent bacteria collecting on their hands by encouraging them to wash thoroughly with soap and water and using an antibacterial hand gel like Cuticura to protect them from picking up unwanted nasties such as E. coli” Dr Lisa Ackerley, Environmental Health Practitioner and Visiting Professor of Environmental Health at Salford University
Cuticura kills 99.99% of E. coli* within a 20 seconds contact time, and is the perfect solution for helping to prevent infection. Great to keep in the car or your bag, Cuticura is non-sticky, fast and effective.
Expert Advice for Reducing The Risk of E. coli, by Dr Lisa Ackerley
1. Always make sure children wash their hands after using the toilet – it’s amazing how many people don’t! Supervise them doing it and make sure they use soap and wash thoroughly – the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday to you” twice is about right
2. Do not allow children to share bath water with anyone who has any signs of diarrhoea or 'stomach flu'. And keep any toddlers still in nappies out of splash parks, wading and swimming pools. If you have a paddling pool at home, empty it daily and re-fill when you need it – don’t let it become a bacterial soup!
3. Lead by example, always wash hands with soap and water and an antibacterial hand hygiene gel. When you can’t use a wash basin, carry an antibacterial hand hygiene gel with you so that you can use it before eating, after going to the toilet, handling animals or changing nappies
4. If looking after someone with diarrhoea, encourage them to wash their hands thoroughly, disinfect surfaces such as taps, flush handles and door handles in the bathroom and make sure they use their own hand-towel, and launder their clothes at 90 °C if possible.
5. Avoid eating undercooked meat, in particular minced beef, and ensure ground meat products such as burgers are cooked to an internal temperature of 75°C – never eat them rare as the contamination from the outside surface of the meat will be spread through to the centre of these products (unlike a rare steak, where the outside surface is seared)
6. Wash hands with soap and water and use an antibacterial hand gel before and after preparing and cooking food
7. Be careful to prevent cross-contamination by cleaning and disinfecting food preparation equipment such as cutting boards and utensils after contact with raw meats, poultry and unwashed salads and vegetables. If putting equipment in the dishwasher, use a hot wash. 30 or 40 °C will allow bacteria to actually multiply, not kill them!
8. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
9. Don’t drink unpasturised milk or juices
10. If you or anyone in your family has bloody diarrhoea, seek immediate medical attention
Don’t underestimate the dangers. Poor hand hygiene could be the cause of a staggering 173 million sick days off work in the UK costing the economy £10 billion a year the study reveals. It is estimated that 75% of illnesses resulting in sick days could have stemmed from poor hand hygiene habits.
*Results from BS EN1276 bacterial activity test
E. coli is a type of bacteria that naturally exists in the bowel. There are a number of different types of E. coli and while the majority are harmless, some can cause serious food poisoning and serious infection.
It's therefore always important than you follow good food and hand hygiene practices.
For further information:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/pages/introduction.aspx
It's therefore always important than you follow good food and hand hygiene practices.
For further information:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/pages/introduction.aspx