Calls for hand washing vigilance as illness sweeps through Australian childcare centres

Children learning how to wash their hands properly with Teal KiddiSynk portable units

Hand hygiene has been a Gold Coast focus for a while says report

Australians have been well aware of the need to wash their hands effectively and frequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Attention recently turned to the Gold Coast area, as a wave of illness presented a new challenge as it swept through a number of childcare facilities in the area, according to a recent report on the Daily Mail website.

A total of nine daycare centres and a school were effected by an outbreak, believed to be gastroenteritis, which prompted a widespread call for hand washing measures to be adhered to by adults and children in the region, wrote Levi Parsons.

The “urgent” health warning was issued by the Gold Coast Public Health Unit as children began suffering from vomiting and diarrhoea. A public health physician reportedly urged parents in southeast Queensland to “wash their hands regularly” and keep children at home if they displayed symptoms.

Encouraging children to wash their hands

The Courier Mail reported that Dr Vicky Slinko advised that children could be infectious for two days after their symptoms had diminished and that “…complacency about hand washing could result in highly infectious viruses spreading from person to person”.

“Taking a moment for hand hygiene” will help to protect the most at risk individuals in the community she advised, adding

“… this should be a reminder to not only wash your hands to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but to wash your hands to prevent the spread of gastroenteritis as well.”

People should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least twenty seconds, recommends the report. They should then be “thoroughly dried”.

Child care centres and school working with public health doctors to prevent gastro spread »


Hand wash units – wherever they’re needed!

Teal produces portable hand washing sinks that are idea for preschool and nursery children including the KiddiSynk and KiddiWash.

The Teal range of mobile sinks also includes the MediWashHygienius and Hygienius ProWashBigSynkSuper StalletteTEALwashHandeman XtraCompact Classic and WashStand.

How to choose the correct mobile sink »


Teal’s Australia and New Zealand distributor »

Teal’s representative for Australia and New Zealand is Transplumb, supplier of portable sinks, basins and hand washing stations.

Children washing hands with Teal KiddiSynk