Kids Urged to Battle Farm Bugs with Soap and Water

BALLYMENA Primary school pupils and their counterparts across Northern Ireland are the target of an innovative campaign launched by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) to remind them of the importance of washing their hands after being in contact with animals during farm visits.

The campaign developed by HSENI centres around an interactive classroom game, in which new, animated superheroes ‘Captain Soapy’ and his best friend ‘Flo’ take boys and girls aged seven and younger on a ‘virtual’ farm safety visit.

In a clear and fun way, these two eye-catching best friends will not only explain to them why washing hands is so important but how they can do it properly every time.

Hand washing with soap and warm water is the only effective way of killing potentially dangerous germs such as E. coli, which can be prevalent on any farm. Whilst the hazards from infection resulting from a farm visit are real, the risks are readily controlled by simple every day measures such as washing your hands.

Speaking at the launch, Stephanie Lowry, HSENI’s Deputy Chair said: “Young children are always excited when they get the chance to see animals up close and a visit to a farm can be a really great day out. However, it’s vitally important to remember that farm animals can carry harmful bacteria such as E. coli, which can be transferred to children through contact with the animal or its faeces.

“If the child then goes on to eat or drink without washing its hands, there is a real risk of serious infection. To reduce that risk everyone, adults included, should thoroughly wash their hands using soap and water if they have either touched the animals or touched anything the animals may have touched. Anti-bacterial gels and wipes on their own are no substitute for properly washing your hands.”

The interactive ‘Farm Visit’ game, which can be used on school whiteboards, guides the child on an engaging tour of the farm using various sounds and animations as superhero duo ‘Captain Soapy’ and ‘Flo’ encourage them to think about safety.

For more details on the campaign and farm safety in general please visit www.hseni.gov.uk/farmsafe