36 million school days lost in UK every year due to avoidable illness

At school, whether in the playground or during lessons, your child will be playing and coming into contact with many more people that they would when they are at home. This means many more opportunities to pick up an infection, meaning time off school and more worry for you. Yet minimising this stress and time out of the classroom could be as simple as ensuring your child is aware of the importance of clean hands.

• More bacteria is transmitted by hand contact than kissing.
• 53% of people in the UK do not wash their hands properly after sneezing or coughing.
• Sales of hand sanitisers have nearly doubled in the last two years.
• 72% of UK consumers are more aware of the need for good hygiene than they were 2 years ago - yet do not practise what they preach.

Multiple academic studies suggest that improved hygiene in the educational environment would significantly reduce the levels of illness related absenteeism in British schools. The Center for Disease Control estimates that the average school child misses approximately one week of school a year due to illness, which equates to an estimated 36 million school days lost every year in the UK. But did you know that hand sanitisers have been shown to reduce illness-related absenteeism in school children by up to 49 per cent?

A study published in the Journal of Family Practice also examined the effects of the use of hand sanitisers in the school environment. The research found that the use of hand sanitisers reduced the number of absences caused by a communicable acute illness, like stomach bugs or diarrhoea, by up to 56%. This will be of interest to the 81% of parents who admitted in a recent Hygiene Council survey that they believe that their children are most likely to pick up an infection in the school or nursery.

A study published in the Journal of Family Practice also examined the effects of the use of hand sanitisers in the school environment. The research found that the use of hand sanitisers reduced the number of absences caused by a communicable acute illness, like stomach bugs or diarrhoea, by up to 56% . This will be of interest to the 81% of parents who admitted in a recent Hygiene Council survey that they believe that their children are most likely to pick up an infection in the school or nursery.

Programmes to improve handwashing in schools have demonstrated a reduction in absenteeism, indicating that there is an opportunity to improve hygiene education and practices within schools. A recent piece of research examined the effects of a comprehensive handwashing programme on absenteeism in elementary (primary) schools, finding that not only did absenteeism levels decline, but that the schools also saved money as a result.

Dettol is launching a NEW Refreshing Hand Foam this September. The Anti-Bacterial Foam kills 99.9% of bacteria in 15 seconds without the need for soap or water making it ideal for use on the go. It's already used in UK hospitals to improve hygiene standards and no matter where you are it is perfect for making sure that you and your family are hygienically clean.

• Encourage children to wash all parts of their hands, even hard to reach areas like between the fingers.
• Ensure children wash their hands for long enough, suggesting that they might sing a short song like 'Happy Birthday' twice to remind them how long they need to clean for.
• Talk to your child about why using an antibacterial soap is important, explaining to them that water alone will not get rid of the invisible germs that might give them a 'poorly tummy'.
• Try using an antibacterial foam which does not require water with your child when out and about - this will reinforce the importance of cleaning hands whenever they are dirty.