Back to school

Going back to school also means getting back into good habits. PRODERPHARMACARE^® helps you create safer learning environments.

14/09/2026
9:33 am

Clean hands also teach good manners.

September brings with it a fresh start. Pupils return, teachers come back, the kitchen teams get to work, activities start up again, break times come to life and the canteens buzz with activity.

With all this, the little gestures that make up the daily routine in any school return. We open doors, share tables, use the toilets, handle food, touch materials and shake hands. In all these moments, one thing is almost always present: our skin.

It is not about turning schools, nurseries or universities into hospital-like environments. It is about something much simpler: making sure that handwashing and care are easy, accessible and second nature for young and old alike.

When the habit starts in the bathroom.

We all know we need to wash our hands. Sometimes, the difficult part is turning that knowledge into a habit. In an educational setting, the key is making the right behaviour the easiest option. A washbasin equipped with water, soap, a suitable dispensing system and an effective drying method encourages people to use it. A gentle product on the skin helps to ensure that frequent handwashing isn’t seen as a nuisance.

Hand hygiene is specifically important after using the toilet, before eating and during food-handling activities. In school kitchens and canteens, moreover, proper handwashing is an essential barrier against cross-contamination.

PRODERPHARMACARE^® places particular emphasis on this approach: combining products, application systems, training and best practice to make hygiene a continuous process. Through our Skin Safety Collectivities Programme, we highlight the importance of hand hygiene and skin care with products and dispensing systems tailored to each environment.

Bathrooms, classrooms and kitchens: every space needs its own solution.

Not every area within a facility has the same hygiene requirements. In nursery bathrooms, for example, you need products for frequent handwashing that also care for the children’s skin. In primary and secondary schools, dispensers must be easy to use, durable and able to withstand constant use.

In contrast, commercial kitchen requirements are different. Hands come into direct contact with food, utensils and surfaces; for this reason, hygiene protocols must be an integral part of the daily routine. This is where a professional solution can make all the difference.

PRODERPHARMACARE^® product range offers hygiene and skin protection products, as well as dispensing systems, designed for a variety of communal settings. Its solutions include Sanit DERMO, a frequent handwashing gel, along with specific hygiene and disinfection products, combined with dispensers and holders that make them easier to use and help control consumption.

For certain disinfection requirements, Sanit VIRUGEL has been proven effective against various microorganisms and is registered as a biocide by the AEMPS.

In the catering field, PRODERPHARMACARE^® also offers products designed for hand hygiene in environments where food safety is paramount. These include Sanit FOAM CLEAN HA solutions, which are suitable for use when handling food, and PGS^® Systems professional dispensing systems.

Bathrooms, classrooms and kitchens: every space needs its own solution.

PRODERPHARMACARE^® believes that hand hygiene should not be viewed merely as a rule to be followed, but as a practice that should be promoted and established.

As with learning, hygiene is about providing the necessary means.

Educational establishments have a great opportunity to make hygiene a learning experience. A child who learns to wash their hands before eating develops a lifelong habit. A teenager who understands why they must wash their hands after using the toilet begins to see the link between their behaviour and community respect. A worker who has the right resources is better able to follow the relevant protocols.

The aim is not to instil fear of microorganisms. We want to normalise a simple practice that reduces risks: soap and water when needed, the correct technique, thorough drying and, when the situation requires it and hands are not visibly dirty, a suitable hydroalcoholic solution. The PRODERPHARMACARE^® Catalogue clearly explains the difference between handwashing and hand sanitising – two complementary practices that should not be confused.

As with learning, hygiene is about providing the necessary means.

What should a school check before the new term begins?

Before the start of the new school year, headteachers, maintenance managers and procurement managers can carry out a brief check on the quality and availability of certain essential items:

Handwashing points: Are they located where they are actually needed?
Availability: Are soap and other hygiene products always available?
Dispensers: Do they work properly, and are they suitable for heavy use?
Kitchens: Are suitable products used for food handling?
Hand sanitiser stations: Is a hand sanitiser required?
Consumption: Does the system allow for the monitoring and optimisation of restocking?
Skin care: Are the products suitable for frequent use?
Habits: Do pupils and staff know when they should wash or sanitise their hands?
Maintenance: Is there a clear procedure for checking and restocking?
Training: Are there signs and/or standardised protocols in place to promote hand hygiene at the centre?

This brief audit can quickly identify shortcomings that, during the academic session, become recurring problems and even become more dangerous sources of infection for the student community, particularly in food-handling areas such as kitchens and canteens. These areas are particularly susceptible to food contamination.

We are your hygiene partner for educational establishments.

For a procurement manager, selecting hygiene products shouldn’t be reduced to simply comparing product codes and prices. The decision must consider effectiveness, suitability for the intended use, consumption, ease of maintenance and the specific facility needs. PRODERPHARMACARE^®can help you assess the needs of schools, nurseries, universities, canteens and commercial kitchens, and find professional hygiene and dispensing solutions tailored to each space.