The UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) is very proud and pleased to announce that the e–Bug Team, which is part of the HPA, in collaboration with School Councils UK has been successful in setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous hand hygiene lesson at multiple venues.

To be successful in setting the new record at least 1,000 participants across ten venues had to take part in the lesson starting at 10am on 15 October, 2012.

This particular day was chosen as it marks Global Handwashing Day. The day aims to raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap which is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections.

The record breaking challenge e-Bug were set was truly smashed as a total of 2,147 children from 21 schools took part from around the UK.

A key feature of the lesson is that teachers and children use fun interactive resources such as the ‘snot runway’ to show how far a sneeze can travel. Pretend germs are used to show how easily real germs can pass from person-to-person in a sneeze and on our hands.

Probably tamer than this video, forwarded by friend-of-the-blog Michele. I’m not sure of the accuracy, but the animation is sorta cool.