Message from Public Health Devon – are you planning a spring day out on one of Devon’s many countryside attractions?
With our county’s brilliant choice of family-friendly farms and rural attractions, it’s a great time to get outside. Just remember that animals can sometimes carry germs that make people ill — young children and pregnant women maybe particularly vulnerable.
A few simple preventative steps can help keep your visit fun and safe:
Do:
- Wash hands with soap and water after touching animals or being in their environment
- Always wash hands before eating or drinking
- Clean muddy shoes, pushchair wheels or other soiled items — then wash your hands again
- Supervise children at handwashing stations
- Stick to designated picnic areas
- Remember germs can transfer to clothes and possessions after handling animals
Don’t:
- Touch your face while around animals
- Let children get too close to animals’ faces
- Eat or drink while walking around a farm environment
- Eat anything that’s fallen on the ground
- Rely on hand gels — they don’t remove dirt or all types of germs
With these simple steps, you can enjoy everything Devon’s rural areas have to offer this spring.
If any adults or children develop sickness or diarrhoea within two weeks of a farm visit, please ask them to contact their GP or call NHS 111.
If anyone has bloody diarrhoea, immediately seek medical help.