Children learn hand cleaning

Apr 24 2008 by Madeleine Brindley, South Wales Echo

CHILDREN will be given special lessons in how to wash their hands properly in hospital.

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust’s hygiene champion Simon Jones will lead the session for patients at the capital’s Children’s Hospital for Wales on Monday.

The event is part of the national Clean Your Hands campaign.

Dr Eleri Davies, director of infection control, said: “The trust is using a system which shows a child how much of a pretend ‘bug’ is on their hands, and how to clean it off.

“We use a bug-busters gel that shows up under UV light, and ask the children to rub it into their hands.

“We then show them their hands under a light box, and show them how to clean them properly.

“It teaches them a lot more about hand hygiene than simply telling them ever would.”

Mr Jones, chair of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, added: “Here in the Children’s Hospital young people are at their most vulnerable and we have to find ways of getting the message across and making it fun.”