Handwashing with soap and water helps your local ambulance service.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) is supporting Global Handwashing Day (15 October) by stressing the importance of handwashing with soap and water in helping to prevent the spread of viral infections.

Phil Convery, SCAS Infection Control Lead said:

'Handwashing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent the spread of viral infections, such as norovirus, rotavirus and influenza. This simple activity serves to prevent the spread of infection and keep children in school.'

Between 600,000 and 1 million people in the UK catch norovirus, more commonly known as the winter vomiting bug, every year. Within schools, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections are a major cause of childhood illness. Washing hands with soap and water can reduce diarrhoea by 42% - 47% and hand washing is important in the prevention of acute respiratory infection.

Global Handwashing Day aims to motivate children to embrace and share proper handwashing practices and to take on the role of handwashing ambassadors by taking the handwashing lessons they learn at school back into their homes and communities.

Published 12 October 2012