Are my nursery overreacting about swine flu?

[minitrip]

Last week parents at my DS's nursery had to start using hand-gel when we entered the nursery. I had a smidgen of understanding about why this might be necessary, although I think at nursery it is far more likely that any infection will be airborn.

Today when I went in I was asked to wear shoe covers... do they really think shoe covers are going to prevent the spread of flu?

Also, they're rules only apply to some parents. Because I happened to catch the eye of one of the nursery staff I was asked to put shoe covers on, but I saw 3 other parents not wearing shoe covers.

And the kids don't have to wear shoe covers or clean their hands! Are they somehow immune from spreading germs because they are toddlers?

If it had always been the nursery policy to wear shoe covers I would understand. But even hospitals and GP surgeries aren't employing these extreme measures.

Or maybe I am not taking this seriously enough?

Bonkers.

whereabouts are you? dd's nursery hasn't even mentioned it, and TBH I'm not surprised. Your nursery staff sound insane

I've never heard of flu being passed by feet

Sounds bonkers to me too.

Yes - mine too - Asquith are mandating it from head office - they told me that it is in response to World Health Organisation recommendations. I've been surfing the WHO pages and the only reference I can find is where infection is already present... They will also mandate different shoes for the kids next week - indoor and outdoor ones... so how they are going to manage that I don't know - with the doors open and the kids running in and out all day - most of them not able to put their own shoes on yet... Ridiculous..... am going to phone and complain....

That is really bizarre!!! Their main thing should be reiterating that ill kids should not be sent in and encouraging the kids to wash their hands and use good hygiene manners. Also checking that they have up to date contact numbers.

DD's nursery has always asked you to put shoe covers on before entering the baby room. They've now started asking you to use the hand gel when you enter (children too) which is odd since it's anti bacterial hand gel and flu is a virus... They say they've been meaning to introduce the gel for a while.

DS's nursery introduced a shoe policy but that was before swine flu. All kids have indoor/outdoor shoes and adults have to remove shoes before going into the rooms - which I do understand as they have babies crawling around. Apparently it was in response to Ofsted guidelines...

My workplace has just put hand-gel on the reception desk. They've also put up posters telling us how to wash our hands . It's just a standard office environment, no more at risk than anywhere else. I've yet to see anyone use the gel

We have had hand gel introduced at our nursery too. We also have to wear shoe covers in baby room but this has always been the case.

indoor shoes only/shoe covers and hand gels have been in some nurseries up here for over a year now, so not necissarily a flu thing.