EDUCATIONAL & SCHOOL FACILITIES
A-GRADE WASHROOMS FOR SAWTRY SCHOOL
Paul Mulready, of Northwood Hygiene Products, tells us all about how Sawtry Junior School in Cambridgeshire was able to improve its hygiene standards and reduce absenteeism following the introduction of their dispenser range.
A study carried out by experts at Bristol University has concluded that hand hygiene interventions among primary school-aged children in educational settings may be beneficial in reducing respiratory tract infection.
In other words thoroughly washing and drying the hands of junior schoolchildren is likely to reduce the spread of coughs and colds and incidentally, some gastric conditions as well. Why, beyond the fact that we don’t want children to be poorly, does that matter?
Well, a nasty wave of infections can disrupt a whole school with both pupils and staff being affected. Lessons missed, projects having to be rescheduled, all add further pressures to an already demanding timetable. There is also likely to be more calls on local GPs, an increased use of antibiotics and the risk of spreading the infection to other, vulnerable members of the community, particularly younger siblings at home. Something definitely to be avoided as much as possible!
So what is it about schools that particularly heighten the likelihood of bacteria spreading? Well the children themselves have immature immune systems and as at this age they
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spend about a third of their time in this enclosed setting, in close contact with one another and sharing both facilities and equipment, it is not altogether surprising that this is an ideal environment for the speedy spread of bacteria.
Great hand hygiene is the first and arguably the most important step in reducing the risk of spreading infection. It is reported that junior school age children are especially receptive to the promotion of good personal habits such as washing their hands thoroughly and that those values are carried on in later life, which is clearly another long term benefit.
Of course those involved in the running and maintaining of our schools are aware of this situation and it is why the School Business Manager of Sawtry Junior School in Cambridgeshire took the review of the supply of washroom products to her school so seriously.
Her decision to install Bay West® dispensing systems (and subsequently to then recommend them to other School Business Managers) has been a great success. With each dispenser taking two rolls, she has discovered that her caretaker spends a lot less time re-filling them, and because all of the towel is used before the new roll
is activated, wastage has also been much reduced, as they run out far less often. This is now representing a considerable cost saving.
Further, Northwood supplied silver plaques displaying the Eco-Label credentials, demonstrating the environmentally friendly status of the systems, which are much appreciated by staff, parents and pupils alike. Finally, the children loved ‘the modern- looking, funky colours’. Bright red dispensers were chosen for the girls’ facilities, blue for the boys and green for the staff. All have brightened up the respective washrooms which, particularly in the case of the pupil’s washrooms, have been left a whole lot tidier than was previously the case.
The sturdy, durable plastic construction of the dispensers minimises the damage caused in the inevitable rough and tumble of the average school day and they are designed to be easy to maintain and keep clean.
Bay West® has made a real difference
at Sawtry school, not only in terms of the essential cost in use criteria, but also in encouraging children to take hand hygiene seriously. That must be a major advantage.
www.northwood.co.uk Tomorrow’s Cleaning July 2016 | 57
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