How washing your hands to Jingle Bells can keep you well this festive season

The request is a reminder for everyone to spend long enough cleaning their hands properly to help prevent the spread of infections. Washing hands with soap and water for around 20 seconds – about one chorus of Jingle Bells – is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness.

Flu and other respiratory viruses continue to circulate at pace across the area, with increasing numbers of people needing hospital care. Local health leaders are urging everyone to play their part by practising good hand hygiene and taking other simple steps like catching coughs and sneezes in tissues to keep themselves and their community well this winter.

Dr Joanne Medhurst, Chief Medical Officer at NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, said:

“Flu cases are continuing to rise quickly, and we are seeing increasing pressure on our health services as a result. While vaccination remains the best protection against serious illness, simple actions like washing your hands properly can make a real difference in stopping infections from spreading. As people spend more time together indoors over winter, these small everyday steps help protect the most vulnerable, reduce pressure on hospitals and keep care available for those who need it most.”

Five simple steps to reduce the spread of winter illnesses

1. If eligible, take up the offer of a free NHS flu vaccination.
2. Wash your hands regularly for 15-20 seconds – to the chorus of Jingle Bells – with soap and water.
3. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough and sneeze, bin the tissue, and wash your hands.
4. Let fresh air in when you can. Even opening windows for a short time can help remove stale air that contains virus particles and prevent the spread of illnesses.

Tempting as it is to head out or go into the office for work, consider staying at home if you’re feeling unwell – to give yourself time to recover and to prevent passing on germs. The Department for Education also provide a useful guide on when to keep children home from school.

Free flu vaccinations continue to be available across many local pharmacies, GP practices and walk-in clinics in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Find out more information about flu vaccine eligibility and local walk-in clinics.