By Local mum’s fury at school’s “constant hand washing” leaving daughter’s skin red and cracked
The mother of a five-year-old pupil at Healing Primary School has voiced her concerns over the “constant hand washing” she is subjected to as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jordan Ferris said: “My five-year-old daughter came home saying her hands were really sore and that she has to wash them all the time with gel and soap. She said she has to wash them when she gets to school, before and after activities, before she leaves school and at other points of the day. I don’t believe washing hands of a five-year-old to this extent is right.”
When Miss Ferris contacted the school about the “constant hand washing”, she said they told her that she is welcome to provide alternative hand sanitiser for her daughter to take into school and use throughout the day.
She continued: “I don’t think that the school did the right thing when I rang them. I asked them how many times she has to wash her hands and they said before and after every activity, before and after toilet times, which is fine, but when I spoke to my daughter she said she has to wash them several times a day.
“She has eczema which she has suffered with since she was two. Her hands are so sore and cracked – putting alcohol gel on cut or cracked hands must really hurt.
“They are over-doing it. You’re not supposed to wash your hands all the time, especially children. They’re supposed to be dirty and gain immunity.
“Over the weekend, we’ve been trying to not wash them as much and the redness has gone, but I know when she goes back to school today it’s going to start again.”
A Facebook post of the five-year-old’s hands was captioned: “Kids’ hands are looking like this due to fear and paranoia. Footballers hugging and kissing. Saturday night TV presenters looking sharp and fresh. Meanwhile our kids are literally being subjected to abuse.”
Government guidelines promote regular hand-washing in schools to ensure the spread of Covid-19 is contained.
A statement on the Government’s website reads: “We have asked nurseries, childminders, schools and colleges to continue to ensure that everyone cleans their hands thoroughly more often than usual, including when they arrive, when they return from breaks, when they change rooms and before and after eating – this should be done for 20 seconds with soap and running water or hand sanitiser.”
Healing Primary School has been contacted for comment.
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