Fighting freshers’ flu with a new class of hygiene

SEPTEMBER WILL see an influx of fresh university students across the country, ready to celebrate their newfound independence. A by-product of these celebrations is the dreaded ‘freshers’ flu’, as campuses become hotbeds for germs. Caused by a mixture of regional variations of the common cold and flu, coupled with weeks of partying, sleep deprivation and a diet of pot noodles and pizza – sickness becomes a highly likely outcome.

Nevertheless, there are a number of steps that university campuses can take to minimise reduce the spread of germs.

Hygiene visuals

It sounds simple but sometimes a little reminder can go a long way. Displaying information graphics in bathrooms can encourage students to wash their hands. The same goes for kitchens which can often see sinks piled high with dirty dishes. A simple ‘clean up after yourself’ message can stop messy kitchens from becoming out of control. You may also want to raise awareness through signage of general hygiene measures such as coughing and sneezing considerations.

Full and comprehensive briefings

Employee turnover is a common issue for facilities managers and with each new staff member comes a requirement to fully brief them on the building’s procedures. Hygiene processes should be a part of the health & safety briefing, holding as much importance as fire prevention and security. It’s important that all staff members are aware of hygiene processes – not just the cleaning staff – as everyone has a role to play in preventing the spread of infection.

This brief should address the importance of hand drying – wet or moist hands facilitate microbial growth and transfer of microorganisms to surfaces or other hands. Not to mention, residual moisture can also cause skin irritations.

Rethink your equipment

When it comes to hand drying, the equipment you use can make a difference. Using paper towel dispensers instead of hand-dryers can help boost your bathroom’s hygiene. It’s been previously reported that hand dryers that blow out hot air can harbour and grow bacteria, while cool air dryers blow germs around the washroom. This can be made worse if users don’t wash their hands properly as the more germs that remain on the hand, the more there are to blow around the room.

Replenish your washroom

Hand sanitiser has become a big part of our day-to-day lives since the pandemic, significantly helping to reduce the spread of infection. Make sure there are dispersers located across the campus, not just in washrooms and that they are always refilled. Bulk ordering all your hygiene essentials, not just hand sanitiser but also paper towels, soap, and cleaning products too will allow you to replenish everything with ease.

Keep on top of high-touch surfaces

With such a large number of people walking around the campus every day, it’s important that regular cleaning is carried out, ensuring that frequently touched surfaces are kept clean – think door handles, light switches, stair railings, elevator buttons and taps. 

Frequent cleaning with normal disinfectants will do a great job of killing a range of germs, including coronavirus. A good tip for keeping on top of this is to make a checklist of the areas that the cleaning team can tick off as they go. 

Keep your communal spaces ventilated

Something that you will hear more and more in relation to infection prevention is ventilation. This is especially important in washrooms due to dampness, humidity, and the nature of what they are used for. However, ventilation concerns should not simply be limited to washrooms, any communal area runs the risk of harbouring germs that can be passed from person to person. This doesn’t mean that doors and windows must be open all the time, in fact, government advice states that bringing fresh air into a room by opening a door or a window for just a couple of minutes can help remove older stale air and the germs in it.

Ultimately, freshers’ flu will probably be unavoidable in some cases. But with the growing concern of various viral diseases and covid cases still regularly recorded, taking these small steps can help to make staff and students feel comfortable and significantly reduce the spread of infection.

​Alasdair Sharp is UK & Ireland sales manager at Satino by WEPA.