Summary of the Week

Thank you for completing week one of the course, we hope you have enjoyed it so far!

This week we covered an introduction to microbes, including examples of useful and harmful microbes and where they can be found in food, our bodies, or in the home. We covered the importance of Targeted Hygiene, i.e. hygiene at key moments when harmful microbes are most likely to spread. We then looked in more detail at washing hands at critical times/moments to reduce the spread of infection.

We also covered the spread of infection through our hands and through coughs and sneezes, how this can be prevented by good respiratory hygiene, and practical activities that you can use in your school or community groups to demonstrate the spread and prevention of infection.

During Week Two, we will cover hygiene in the childcare setting, including practical tips for infection prevention and control, and managing an outbreak. We will also discuss the importance of vaccinations and how to use antibiotics responsibly.

Let us know in the comments below:

• Do you have any questions about week one?
• What was your key take-home message from this week?