🏫 Sanitisers in Schools: What Parents Should Advocate For

Palmtree UK Team
Jul 24
2 min read

Summer holidays are just around the corner—and the last thing you want is your child bringing home a nasty bug. For parents of primary-school kids, there's a surprisingly simple solution: advocating for effective hand sanitiser in schools. It’s not just a nice extra—it’s a powerful step towards cutting illness, boosting holiday fun, and keeping the whole family healthy.

✅ Why It Matters

Schools are breeding grounds for viruses, bacteria, and infections. But studies show that regular use of alcohol-based sanitisers alongside good hygiene can reduce absenteeism significantly:

One study reported a 19.8% drop in illness-related absences when classrooms used alcohol gel dispensers—teachers saw a 10% reduction too.
Another trial of alcohol-free sanitiser in 769 children showed a 33% fewer absences compared to placebo after just five weeks.
In a crossover study of 420 primary children, illness-related absence days dropped by 41.9%, with dips of 28.9% for GI and nearly 50% for respiratory infections.

🧼 Soap vs. Sanitiser: Best of Both

Handwashing with soap and warm water for 20 seconds remains the gold standard—especially after toilet use or messy play. But when sinks aren't accessible (like on playgrounds), sanitiser (with 60%+ alcohol) is the best backup.

Think of them as teammates: soap tackles dusty hands, sanitiser covers quick transitions.

🌱 Meet Palmtree Hygiene: Kind to Planet & Skin

"Palmtree Hygiene’s foaming hand sanitiser uses ethanol derived from palm-tree sap—a world-first sustainable base that’s vegan, eco-friendly, and kind to skin. UK-developed, it’s low in hazardous ingredients, enriched with sap-packed vitamins, and leaves hands soft—not sticky."

This highlights your eco credentials, scientific innovation, and gentle touch—ideal for kids and conscious parents alike.

🔧 How to Advocate at School

Suggest installing sanitiser dispensers in classrooms, corridors, and lunch zones—convenient access is key to reducing germs fast.
Promote regular usage: think simple timing—before snacks, after play, after coughing or sneezing.
Support hygiene education: posters, teacher-led demos, or student “hand-hygiene champions.”
Offer supplies or info packs, linking directly to Palmtree Hygiene’s site—for bulk refills, sustainably formulated sanitiser, and engaging classroom materials.

🎉 Holiday-Ready Benefits

With fewer bugs circulating at school, kids arrive home healthy, holidays stay joyous, and stress levels drop. Working parents won’t be hauling kids to doctors mid-break, and family plans won’t turn into sick day marathons.

⚠️ What to Watch

Supervise younger kids—educate them not to taste or rub eyes.
Check skin tolerance—ensure there’s moisturisation included, like aloe or palm sap.
Know its limits: sanitiser is ineffective against some pathogens (e.g. norovirus), so soap and water are still key.

📣 Call to Action: Teach Hygiene

Help your child build habits that last:

Chat about sanitiser use and why it’s important.
Lead by example—kids learn by watching.
Partner with your school to secure sanitiser stations, eco-friendly kits, and simple reminders.

By joining forces—parent, child, school—you create a shield of hand hygiene that keeps illnesses out and holidays unforgettable.

📚 Sources

Reduction in illness absences with alcohol gel dispensers (19.8% drop; 6,000+ students) infona.pl +3AJIC Journal+3PubMed+3
Alcohol-free sanitiser trial (33% fewer absences) SAGE Journals+6PubMed+6cbsm.com+6
Crossover study (41.9% fewer illness days; GI – 28.9%; respiratory – 49.7%) AJIC Journal+2PubMed+2SAGE Journals+2
Experts note skin and pathogen caveats, 60%+ alcohol recommendation reddit.com