Health and Safety at Windle House Farm – Avoiding Infection
We hope you thoroughly enjoy your visit to Windle House Farm especially meeting and interacting with our animals. However, contact with any animal carries a risk of infection. To help prevent the risk of infection we ask that you follow our Health and Safety Guidelines to reduce the risk of ill health.
Farm animals carry a number of infections that can be harmful to humans, for example, E. Coli and Cryptosporidium – many animals carry these infections even when they appear clean and healthy. The bacteria will be in the animals droppings and may even be on the animals body, or on fences and surfaces in and around the farm. Touching animals and fences can therefore lead to infection, as you may pick up these bacteria and accidentally pass them to your mouth. It only takes a small number of the bacteria to cause infection.
The best and simplest way to reduce the risk of infection is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water immediately after you have had contact with animals.
HAND GELS OR WIPES ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR WASHING YOUR HANDS WITH RUNNING WATER AFTER TOUCHING THE ANIMALS
DO’S
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have touched animals, fences or other surfaces in animal areas
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Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and drinking.
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Remove and clean boots or shoes that have become soiled and clean pushchair wheels. Then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water
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Supervise children closely to ensure that they wash their hands
DON’TS
Put hands on faces or fingers in mouths whilst walking around the farm and interacting with your chosen animal.
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Kiss farm animals or allow children to put their faces close to animals
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Eat or drink whilst touching animals or walking round the farm - eat only in the designated areas
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Eat anything that has fallen on the floor
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Use gels or wipes instead of washing hands with soap and water. Gels and wipes do not remove E.Coli, Cryptosporidium or dirt