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Original poster

Am I being weird and paranoid or rightly cautious

108 replies

romanrainsalot · 18/02/2017 22:24

Vote now! Wink

DD (aged 5) has been given a letter re a school trip to local farm - one of those family day out types with petting zoo things as well as part of it being a real working farm.

Its an all day trip, needs to take a lunch.

Thing is, DD and I went a few months ago and whilst it was worthwhile and I don't mind her going again, when we went to wash our hands the water was cold more like freezing in all of the taps we tried, in all of the hand washing blocks.

I hate washing hands in cold water, it feels like they are not washed. I hate the thought of DD not being able to wash hands properly, especially at a farm and then they will be having lunch there. I can just imagine her ending up ill.

Would I be a) weird and paranoid to mention it to teacher or b)rightly cautious?

Thanks in advance

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OnceMoreIntoTheBleach · 19/02/2017 12:41

They usually have the hand gel too if you're really worried. But with soap, her hands will be clean. The temperature won't make much difference unless it's near boiling!

zzzzz · 19/02/2017 12:47

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jamdonut · 19/02/2017 14:50

If it puts your mind at rest, talk to the teacher. I'm sure they will allow you to let your daughter take sanitising gel if you are that worried, but honestly, these things are in the risk assessments that are done, and all staff and helpers have to sign to say they've read it and are aware.
So I am certain the children will wash their hands, and school may even take gel to squirt on the children's hands anyway.
I'm seeing this from a staff point of view, but as a mother it would not even have crossed my mind. I have always allowed school to do what they think best for my children.
Whilst E.coli is a very real potential threat, it is more than these farms dare risk, particularly as children make up most of their visitors.
Try not to worry...I'm sure most other parents aren't.

TeenAndTween · 19/02/2017 15:22

Our local farm (Longdown Activity Farm) has a 'germinator' that kids on trips use. It shows up where they haven't washed their hands properly before lunch and they are sent back to do them again. tis fab.

OP if you are anxious, say to the teacher 'I know I am being over anxious, but you do make sure the kids wash their hands properly don't you?' and then teacher will reassure you with what they have in place.

Megatherium · 19/02/2017 17:34

Just make sure you teach your daughter to wash her hands properly, irrespective of the temperature of the water. Job done.

MidniteScribbler · 20/02/2017 00:24

Please make sure you bring this up with the teacher. Staff room conversations are pretty boring sometimes and this will definitely give them something to talk about.

user789653241 · 20/02/2017 06:47

Sound bonkers to me.
I am one of those mums who worry about germs(ds has chronic illness), so I make sure his lunch is packed with wipes, and always tell him to clean his hand before eating. But I don't worry about water being too cold!

nat73 · 20/02/2017 10:26

I like this:

MidniteScribbler Mon 20-Feb-17 00:24:43
Please make sure you bring this up with the teacher. Staff room conversations are pretty boring sometimes and this will definitely give them something to talk about.!! :-)

you sound bonkers to me..

whomovedmychocolate · 20/02/2017 15:40

You do realise young children like to eat dirt don't you OP? Grin

Seriously I think you are being a bit overprotective. What do you do when she is at school because I tell you what, they send them to wash hands before dinner and probably one in ten do it properly, the rest do a cursory 'get your hands wet and then rub them on your bum to dry'. Sorry.

I'm sure the teachers will do more on a trip to ensure they wash hands properly than they do in a building though so it's probably fine.

babyapril · 20/02/2017 15:49

Teachers don't have the time to sit about gossiping about 'quirky' parents.
I honestly don't know why that is constantly presented as fact on here.
You are perfectly entitled to ask the Teacher.

Cleanermaidcook · 20/02/2017 15:52

OTT in my opinion op.
There are usually gel dispensers at farms to use anyway.
Water temp makes no difference to hygene, it's soap thats important and hand washing technique that you will (hopefully) have taught her at home.
They will probably have been doing this trip every year for years without killing off any children.
Also your dd used school toilets daily without coming to much harm - they would turn your stomach if you popped your head in mid afternoon more than anything at a farm would. (think 30 5 yr olds not flushing, wee on floor, poo on seats, tissue literally everywhere)

Touchmybum · 20/02/2017 15:57

Oh dear god, planet Earth calling! How many incidences do you know of where Horrible Germs have been contracted?! I grew up in a farming community and guess what, all of us survived, with none of this obsession about germs and bacteria.

Why would you think the teachers don't have time to discuss neurotic parents? What do you think they entertain themselves with in the staffroom? Don't be that mother!

I really do think the world has gone mad...

Ghodavies · 20/02/2017 15:57

Seriously??
It's really not a massive issue.

RedSauce · 20/02/2017 15:57

Very OTT.

The soap washes the germs off your hands. Water temperature is irrelevant.

bigearsthethird · 20/02/2017 15:59

I would imagine that at a farm with a bunch of 5 year olds the teachers will be very strict about hand washing before lunch. Send her with gel if you're worried and tell her to use a bit of that before she eats anything

Touchmybum · 20/02/2017 16:01

Or maybe go and lurk behind a shed with the hand gel, just in case she forgets.

Clankboing · 20/02/2017 16:02

When teachers organise trips to farms they have to create, collect and carry out health and safety risk assessments. They will include hand washing. Include some wipes or gel if it reassures you and explain to the teacher that you are nervous.

Backt0Black · 20/02/2017 16:02

A bit OTT this. What are you hoping to achieve by mentioning it? That the farm install fancier heating? That the trip is cut down to half a day so everyone can dash home to warm water hand washing before eating? Or that is it just canceled ?

I have a farm, am pregnant and am yet to die of poor hygine. My outdoor taps are FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZING and when we moved in the heating broke down leaving us with no indoor hot water / heating in the middle of winter for near 3 weeks. We still ate, we're all fine.... and DS will absolutely be my little right hand man on the farm when he's old enough to enjoy it.

TheOnlyColditz · 20/02/2017 16:04

Weird and paranoid

ChrisYoungFuckingRocks · 20/02/2017 16:05

I know people are a lot more careful these days, but just think about it - we didn't have gel and wipes and stuff when we were kids, and we survived just fine.

I used to be outside all day on my grandparents' farm, climbing trees, horse riding, milking the cows, catching crabs in the stream, playing in the mud etc. Quick rinse of the hands under cold water before lunch and it was fine. I never got ill or caught anything and I grew up just fine. I do think we are a bit overcautious these days...

ExitStage · 20/02/2017 16:08

Does nobody remember the Godstone Farm E.Coli outbreak? 76 kids were affected.

I think it's fair enough to ask teachers about any risk assessment.

WhispersOnTheWind · 20/02/2017 16:09

So, after your last visit did any of you come down with dysentery/cholera/e coli/foot and mouth? Have there been reports about outbreaks of any of the aforementioned linked to the farm in the interim. I'm guessing no and I'm also guessing despite your concerns about the facilities you didn't report the farm to the relevant environmental health authorities either. Quit over-thinking, put some antibacterial handcleanser or wipes in your child's lunchbox if you're that concerned. Relax, it'll be fine.

RedSauce · 20/02/2017 16:12

I think it's fair enough to ask teachers about any risk assessment

I'm sure one was done. If we were talking about there being no soap, there would be a reasonable cause for concern. But cold water? That has no bearing on kids being able to wash their hands.

OuchLegoHurts · 20/02/2017 16:13

A bit over the top! Do you suffer from anxiety?

BorrowedHeart · 20/02/2017 16:13

As long as there is soap the temperature of the water doesn't matter, when using soap the germs slide off your hands they don't get killed, she will be fine if you are worried, pack some anti bac gel, I get Ines that smell like bubblegum or strawberry laces. I have an immune surpressed daughter and I'm a rush etc cold water has never been an issue for us.