Health & Safety Information

How to be safe around Church Farm with the animals

Washing your hands

WHY? – Animals carry germs that can make people ill, especially the very young, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

WHO? – Everyone – NO EXCEPTIONS !

WHEN? 

• After touching the animals
• After touching the animal houses or fences where the animals live
• After taking off dirty shoes
• After going to the toilet
• Before eating or drinking

HOW? 

• Wet your hands under running water
• Put some soap on and make a lather
• Rub for 20 seconds ( sing happy birthday twice through!)
• Rinse under lots of running water so all the germs wash down the drain
• Dry your hands with a CLEAN paper towel
• Put the paper towel in the bin

DISEASES

Very low numbers of micro-organisms can cause human infections,  washing your hands is the most important way to prevent such infections from spreading.

Toxoplasmosis – Women who are, or may be pregnant are potentially at risk of acquiring certain infectious diseases such as toxoplasma, chlamydophila abortus and listeria from pregnant livestock including sheep and goats.

E-Coli 0157 & Cryptosporidium parvum – may be passed to visitors by animal faeces, e.g. by touching the faeces directly or indirectly and then putting fingers into the mouth.  Therefore HANDWASHING IS VITAL to visitors.

Biting – Some animals may bite at the Farm.

Please do not feed the animals.

Please stroke the animals in the petting pens on their back, not on their heads.

Please never kiss the animals