Visiting an open farm, zoo or wildlife park is a great way to get children out and about in the summer months. It's hugely popular with schools and parents, with at least 700,000 children visiting farms on the island of Ireland every year.

It's also an environment where children can get up close with germ-carrying animals, so make sure your children know how to keep themselves safe. safefood's welly-wearing cow, Suzie Moo, has some simple advice.

Before your visit

• Wear clothes that are right for being on a farm such as wellies or good strong shoes – not sandals
• Make sure that any cuts or grazes are covered with waterproof dressings

 Meeting the animals

• Don’t kiss the animals or allow them to lick your face
• Don’t suck your fingers or put anything you find in your mouth
• When you’re with the animals or in the animal area, don’t eat or drink anything – and never eat animal food or pick up any food from the ground
• Unless someone working on the farm gives you permission, don’t pick up any tools, such as spades or forks, and don’t touch any animal droppings
• Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water and rinse in running water before leaving the animal area. Bring moist towelettes to clean your hands if there is no water available

Feeding time – for you

• Wash and dry your hands properly before you start to eat
• Eat only in areas where you have been told it is ok to do so
• Eat only food you have brought with you or food you have bought from a food shop on the farm
• Don’t drink from any taps unless they are clearly marked that it is ok to drink from them
• Don’t drink unpasteurised or raw milk

Before leaving

• Make sure you put any rubbish in waste bins
• Don’t leave any food lying around behind you – take it home or put it in waste bins
• Make sure you clean your wellies or shoes and then wash and dry your hands properly before you leave the farm

safefood worked with the North Eastern Zoonosis Committee to produce child-friendly posters that are now available in all open farms, zoos and wildlife parks throughout Ireland, north and south.  The leaflets have also been distributed to schools, Environmental Health Officers, Health Promotion co-ordinators and Vets.

Download the leaflet
Download the poster