Impor­tant things to remem­ber for your visit

We hope you have a fab­u­lous vis­it to a farm on Open Farm Sun­day. Please don’t for­get to keep clean and wash your hands thor­ough­ly with soap and water before eat­ing, and at the end of your visit.

Please do not rely on sani­tis­ing hand gels or wipes to pro­tect your­self or your chil­dren against germs that may be present in ani­mal dirt around the farm. Hand gels can­not remove con­t­a­m­i­na­tion in the man­ner that soap and water can.
To reduce the risk of ill­ness, both adults and chil­dren should thor­ough­ly wash their hands using soap and water after they have han­dled ani­mals or touched sur­faces at the farm and always before eat­ing or drinking.

Pub­lic Health Eng­land issued the fol­low­ing guide­lines on vis­its to farms:

1. Wash your hands thor­ough­ly with soap and water before eat­ing or drinking

2. Remove and clean boots or shoes that might have become soiled and clean pushchair wheels. Then wash your hands thor­ough­ly with soap and water

3. Super­vise chil­dren close­ly to ensure that they wash their hands thoroughly

4. Eat and drink in des­ig­nat­ed pic­nic areas or cafes only

5. Do not put hands on faces or fin­gers in mouths while pet­ting ani­mals or walk­ing round the farm

6. Do not allow chil­dren to put their faces close to farm ani­mals or kiss the animals

7. Do not eat or drink while touch­ing ani­mals or walk­ing round the farm. This includes not eat­ing sweets, crisps or chew­ing gum

8. Don’t eat any­thing that has fall­en on the floor

9. Do not use gels or wipes instead of wash­ing hands with soap and water. Gels and wipes do not remove the germs found on farms

10. Wash your hands thor­ough­ly with soap and water after you have touched ani­mals, fences or oth­er sur­faces in ani­mal areas

Although the risk of becom­ing unwell is very low in light of the mil­lions of farm vis­its every year there are occa­sion­al out­breaks of gas­troin­testi­nal dis­ease which are linked to vis­its to farms. Please keep clean and safe.

Don’t for­get farms are work­ing busi­ness­es so please fol­low instruc­tions from the farmer and his helpers. Keep an eye on your chil­dren and help them to keep safe dur­ing your visit.