Kit Tarka Foundation: THANKS - Think Hands And No Kisses campaign (27 January 2022)

Summary

This campaign from Kit Tarka Foundation aims to remind anyone coming into contact with a young baby to remember their T-H-A-N-K-S: Think Hands And No Kisses. Young babies are particularly susceptible to infections, but many people are unaware of the risks and what they can do to reduce them.

Content

Kit Tarka Foundation carried out a 'Babies at Risk: Neonatal Herpes Awareness' survey of new parents which found that:

• 60% of new and expectant parents don't know that herpes infections in young babies can be fatal.
• more than 1 in 6 mothers and birthing parents would allow a person that they did not know well to touch their baby without first washing their hands.
• a third of parents said they would not ask family and friends to wash their hands before holding their very young baby.
• many parents had experience of their babies being kissed by friends and family members without consent being given, but found it awkward and uncomfortable to ask others to change their behaviour.

Related reading

Neonatal herpes: Why healthcare staff with cold sores should not be working with new babies
Neonatal herpes – more common than you think?
The devastating consequences of a missed neonatal herpes diagnosis
What can I do to prevent my baby getting neonatal herpes? (Kit Tarka Foundation)