Schools are important community hubs which potentially connect hundreds of households and where children come into close contact throughout the year.  As a point of contact between households, schools can also be factor in how illnesses spread through a community, so the hygiene standards that are upheld are important in protecting children and their families.

The impact of poor hygiene on student health and attendance

The UK government statistics suggest that above levels of pupil absence above 10% can have a significant impact on learning, and that schools should have a strategy in place to minimise days lost.

Maintaining good hygiene practices within schools and encouraging students to wash and dry their hands properly can help reduce the spread of germs and contribute to lower levels of absence due to sickness.

Common Hygiene Challenges in School Bathrooms

Schools need to have sufficient toilet facilities for the number of pupils on site, and this is fixed during the design process for the buildings, but due to the structure of the school day, there are times when usage is much higher, and this can result in delays queues that mean good hygiene practices are missed.

Shared surfaces and high footfall

During periods of high footfall in toilets such as during breaks and lunch hours, large numbers of pupils may use facilities together, and during these periods, cleaning cannot be undertaken, so any germs can build up on surfaces which can be passed from one pupil to another.  In bathrooms using conventional warm air hand dryers which can take up to a minute to work fully, children may not wash and dry their hands to avoid the queues and get back to class or other activities.

Paper towel waste and overflow issues

To reduce queueing issues and speed students through the bathroom, some schools opt for paper towels for drying, however this is costly in terms of restocking fees and also in terms of waste removal.  Large numbers of towels being used during busy periods can leave bathrooms looking untidy and put children off using them as well as creating issues for cleaning staff.

How Jet Towel Hand Dryers Improve Hygiene

Choosing Mitsubishi Electric Wave jet hand dryers can contribute to better school hygiene standards in multiple ways that will help to reduce the spread of germs and contribute to lower absence levels and better learning outcomes. 

Faster, quiet operation

The Mitsubishi Electric Wave U02 is one of the fastest hand dryers available and works in as little as 10 seconds, thanks to its innovative jet towel design.  This means that students can complete their hand washing more quickly and exit the bathroom which reduces overcrowding and queueing times

Touch-free operation

Touch-free automatic hand dryers remove a point of contact where germs could be passed from one pupil to another and help to stop the spread of germs around the school.

Built-in water collection to prevent puddles

The Mitsubishi Electric Wave i01 hands-in dryer features a pod that collects water that is blown off the skin to prevent puddles from forming on the floor.  This helps to improve bathroom safety by reducing the risk of slips and falls.

Antibacterial surfaces and easy cleaning

The use of antibacterial surfaces for easy wipe down cleaning and air filters on the hand dryers mean that there is much less chance of germs settling long enough on surfaces that they can be picked up and spread between pupils protecting the health of the school community.

Find out more

Speak to a member of our team today to learn more about how Mitsubishi Electric Wave Hand dryers can help you improve school hygiene standards and protect the health of your pupils.  Send an enquiry or call 01707 288780 to discuss your project.