1. Micro-organisms

2. Microbes are Tiny Living Things
Microbes or micro-organisms can only be seen through a microscope.
There are millions of microbes in the soil, air, water and even the human body.
Some microbes are USEFUL and some are DANGEROUS.
Bacteria and viruses are microbes.

3. Helpful Microbes do Important Jobs
Bacteria which help make vinegar, cheese and yoghurt
Bacteria rot down dead organisms and put nutrients in the soil for plants to help them grow
Yeast is a microbe: it’s used to make beer and bread

4. Harmful microbes can cause Disease
They cause disease and illness: flu, colds, measles, chicken pox, AIDS,tetanus, etc.
Microbes cause tooth decay.

5. Four ways of Spreading Disease
From coughs and sneezes
From touching infected people or objects
From insect bites
From infected food

6. In the Kitchen – be Sensible with Food
Keep food covered
Store food in a fridge
Heat food properly when cooking
Store raw meat away from cooked meat
Preserve foods properly – take away water and air

7. At home – be Sensible with Personal Hygiene
Wash your hands after going to the toilet
Don’t sneeze or cough over people

8. At the Doctors – Medicines are used to fight Microbes
Medicines called vaccines and antibiotics are taken as pills or injected – to fight microbes that cause illness