Amazing Facts That Affect Our Children Everyday

To begin with it is important to remember that nursery schools and other education establishments do an amazing job in making sure our children’s health, safety and welfare is protected. From making sure teachers and classroom assistants are fully trained to little things like teaching the children how to wash their hands or blow their nose, the role of someone working in the education industry is constantly evolving.

But as a nursery or school teacher or even as a parent, did you know that the average toddler will be ill eight times a year from germs they have acquired. And on the subject of germs, did you know that the human body is home to over 1000 species of bacteria and that there are more germs in your body than there are people living in Germany?

The truth is, some germs are useful as they help both children and adults build up their immune system which helps us stay healthy and fight infections. And yet with 90 percent of germs on the hands being found under the nails, it is hardly surprising that 4 out of every 5 illnesses are spread by touch. Based on this, the fact that more germs are spread by shaking hands than by kissing would seem to make perfect sense.

Some other amazing facts based around a child’s hygiene include that sneezes are an automatic reflex and as such, once you start to sneeze, you will not be able to stop it. Also on the subject of sneezing, covering your hands to cover a sneeze or cough probably is not the best thing to do bearing in mind the facts highlighting above about the hands and touch being the main cause of the spread of illness.  

With a human nose producing one to two pints of mucus a day and a single sneeze producing literally millions of germs, it is no wonder that droplets of moisture from the nose can be propelled over 30 feet. Especially when you consider the average speed of a sneeze is somewhere between 80 and 100 miles per hour.

The truth is the swine flu pandemic has highlighted hygiene and so many nurseries and schools are far better equipped to deal with illness and the spread of germs than ever before.  

If you work in a nursery or pre school you will no doubt already be aware of many of these hygiene facts and will be teaching children on a daily basis the importance of washing their hands in the correct way. Nothing is more important than the safety and well being of our children and nurseries are doing all the can to make sure they are safe and sound at all times. From buying the right nursery insurance to carrying out risk assessments to educating parents, nurseries do a great job that are making our nurseries safer than ever before.