SneezeSafe programme educates kids on flu hygiene

Glitter and mist spray were among the props as a local school took part in a nationwide hygiene programme to prevent the spread of flu.

Malfroy School's rooms one and two took part in the Kleenex SneezeSafe Healthy Classrooms programme as part of SneezeSafe week, with children taught about the science of sneezes, the art of sneezing safely and encouraged to take their new skills home to teach others.

Class teacher Kelly Mau said every class at the school took part in the programme, but the SneezeSafe kits needed to be shared around.

Ms Mau said a mist of water, launched from a spray bottle, showed how far a sneeze could spread flu virus particles through the air, with sparkly glitter pretending to be the flu virus particles on unwashed hands.

"[SneezeSafe] is important as it stops the kids getting sick and getting germs, you can imagine what it's like in a classroom in winter."

She said her class had loved the programme.

"They thought it was great. Safety in health is a big thing we push here."

Semaj Joseph, 5, told the group they had to blow into the tissue, then put it in the rubbish, followed by the washing of hands, with Christian Webb-Foote, 5, explaining how if you didn't have a tissue you blew into your elbow.

"You can go home and teach your mum and dad, and big sisters and little sisters how to sneeze safe," Ms Mau said.

This is the 13th winter the programme has taken place in New Zealand.

Virologist Dr Lance Jennings encouraged children taking part in SneezeSafe lessons to take the flu basics they've learned in class home and teach their parents.

Lucy Hellaby, brand manager for Kleenex and co-ordinator for SneezeSafe week, said around 500 schools and kindergartens nationwide would be taking part.

"The available resources for all schools can be downloaded for use from the SneezeSafe website."