Before watching the videos
This series of videos taken from Operation Ouch! link to the statutory relationships and health education guidance, and the non-statutory PSHE programme of study.
As with all PSHE-related content,a safe teaching and learning environment should be established before class viewing. It is important to watch the video before viewing, to ensure it is suitable for your pupils and works within your curriculum planning.
Please ensure you have read the teacher guidance before using in the classroom
These three videos can be used together to demonstrate how germs and viruses are spread, and the importance of hygiene and hand washing.
Watch the video – the immune system
The immune system
XAND: How are you feeling, Chris?
CHRIS: Fine.
XAND: Well, your temperature's normal. I didn't feel anything in your neck.
CHRIS: Of course my temperature's normal.
XAND: Open up.
CHRIS: [mumbles with mouth open] I'm not ill.
XAND: Say "Aah."
CHRIS: Aah.
XAND: Well, it all looks all right to me. I don't think there's anything wrong with him at all.
CHRIS: There isn't anything wrong with me. I'm not ill.
XAND: Why didn't you say so before?
CHRIS: I did say so. I s—
XAND: Now, when you've been ill you might have had the doctor do checks on you just like the ones that I just did on Chris.
XAND: And the reason for that is that this area is full of lymph nodes or glands that get swollen when you get an infection. By feeling them you can tell if someone's ill.
CHRIS: And your immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect your body from infection. Now, your lymph nodes are a really important part of this immune network. So let's take a look at one over here.
CHRIS: This is from a pig but it's very similar to your lymph nodes. You have lots of lymph nodes like this, some in your neck but also in your groin, your armpits and behind your knees, and in fact spread all over your body. Now, most of yours are much smaller than this, smaller in fact than a pea.
XAND: They may be small, Chris, but these little lymph nodes have a big job to do.
CHRIS: Now, they're packed with white blood cells or leukocytes, and these are the supercells of your immune system that fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi that can make you ill. So any bugs that get fil-tered and sent to the lymph node are dealt with.
XAND: And you wouldn't wanna mess with a leukocyte, let me tell you.
CHRIS: That's right, Xand. And you're about to find out exactly how tough these bug-fighting cells really are.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: I'm going to take a sample of Xand's blood and infect it with a very nasty fungus.
CHRIS: And we're gonna watch your white blood cells or leukocytes fight the bad fungus off.
XAND: Take my arm and take my blood. And while you do, I will address the troops – I mean the cells. Cells, I expect that every one of you will do your duty. We shall fight them in the lymph nodes, we shall fight them in the spleen, but we shall never surrender.
CHRIS: Er, okay, Xand. So here is a sample of Xand's blood, complete with leukocytes. And here is a sample of very nasty fungus.
XAND: Well, mix them together. Let battle commence.
CHRIS: No, Xand, because we can only do this in a specialised infection laboratory.
XAND: I've got one of those in the cupboard.
CHRIS: In that case, you can take them.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: And a few hours later…
XAND: Chris, I've got it! The video of the battle between the fungus and my leukocytes!
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: Let's put it on.
CHRIS: Okay, so we can see a sped-up version of the fungus and Xand's white blood cells. The green blobs, they're the deadly fungus. And the grainy black-and-white cells are Xand's leukocytes.
XAND: Go you greens!
CHRIS: No, Xand, the green ones are the fungus.
XAND: Right. Don't go you greens.
CHRIS: Now, have a look closely at this guy. He's moving around and he's getting more and more angry. And he's surrounded that little bit of fungus. And he's phagocytosed him!
XAND: He's eaten him! It's all over for the fungus!
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: Look at Xand's leukocyte moving in and gobbling up that nasty fungus.
XAND: Wow! That's my immune system at work! Amazing!
CHRIS: Well, I have to hand it to you, Xand, that was pretty impressive stuff. Seems like your leu-kocytes were made of tough stuff after all.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: We've shown you that your lymph nodes are a really important part of your immune system and that they're packed with leukocytes to fight off nasty bugs.
XAND: So the next time they pop up in your neck or feel a bit swollen, remember to thank them for looking after you.
CHRIS: Yes, because they may be small in size but they're practically superheroes. Because inside each lymph nodes is a strong army of leukocytes ready to fight off invaders any time they appear. Isn't that right, Xand? Xand?
XAND: Who is this Xand you speak of? I am Lymph Node Man.
CHRIS: Ah, well, in that case, you're in luck, Xand – I mean Lymph Node Man. I saw a load of bacte-rial and fungal invaders heading that way.
XAND: How nasty were they?
CHRIS: Very nasty.
XAND: I have to change my cape.
Video summary – the immune system
The video opens with Dr. Xand conducting a routine medical examination on Dr. Chris, focusing on his lymph nodes. He explains how these glands work as part of the immune system and why they tend to swell when someone is unwell.
To illustrate the body’s defense mechanisms, the doctors then carry out an experiment demonstrating how white blood cells – or leukocytes – identify and attack harmful bugs.
The video concludes with Dr. Xand transforming into the superhero “Lymph Node Man”!
Watch the video – vomit
Vomit
XAND: Vomit, what makes our bodies do it and why? Well, we're doctors and we can tell you.
CHRIS: Can I get it now?
XAND: Hang on.Being sick's your body's mechanism for getting rid of stuff it doesn't want, often because there's a bad bacteria or virus in your stomach.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: So that's the simple answer to why we puke, although it's a bit more complicated.
CHRIS: Now can I get it?
XAND: Hang on. But what's vomit actually made of and what goes on inside our bodies to prepare us for this massive event?
CHRIS: Now can I get it?
XAND: Oh, go on then. Let's see Chris' lunch.
CHRIS: This is my sick.
XAND: Urgh, Chris, that's awful.
CHRIS: Don't worry, I'm not ill.
XAND: There is still food in there.
XAND: That's because when you're sick from your stomach it's not choosy. You bring up everything to try and get rid of that bad bacteria or virus.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: So what your stomach ejects is all the food and drink you've taken in in one go.
CHRIS: But, there is another ingredient in vomit. Now, Xand, I want you to close your eyes and im-agine you're in a really posh Italian restaurant. And don't you think my vomit smells a bit like…?
CHRIS & XAND: Cheese.
CHRIS: And that's because when food is broken down in your stomach it makes butyric acid.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: The acid is produced by bacteria as it eats away at your food, and the same bacterial process occurs as cheese ages.
XAND: Which is why older cheeses like Parmesan smell a little bit like vomit.
VOICEOVER [XAND]: Just as well Chris hadn't been eating Parmesan or his vomit would smell much worse.
CHRIS: Enough already. Now, I've got something even better than a tub of my own vomit.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS OR XAND]: Apart from it being really unpleasant when you're sick, there are real dangers of your vomit spreading a virus and it can lead to an epidemic, just like the winter vomiting bug the norovirus. But how can vomit spread viruses?
CHRIS: This is Larry. He's a robot. But he's not just any old robot. He's a vomiting robot. Larry's been specially designed to show us how the virus can spread to other people when we vomit. So, I've given Larry a big drink and he's gonna vomit into this container.
XAND: If he's ill, shouldn't he just stick to dry toast or something?
CHRIS: Xand!Ready to puke in three, two, one.
CHRIS & XAND: Urgh! [both chuckle]
CHRIS: That was really powerful.
XAND: It's amazing. That might look like a much more powerful puke than a human would do, but in fact there are things like norovirus that do make you projectile vomit. It's lucky we had such a big container. I think we caught it all.
CHRIS: Well, we can check that, Xand, because I put a fluorescent dye in the liquid that I made Lar-ry drink.
XAND: Do you think that's what made him sick?
CHRIS: Hmm… No, I think turning the knob made him sick! He's a robot, Xand. So, I'm gonna go and turn on the ultraviolet lights and we'll see if any of the splashes of vomit escaped.So, there's loads in the container. You can see it really well. If you look at outside the container, see how much there is here.
XAND: Yeah, there's loads. And then over here where I am there's even more. These are big, big drops. Some of them are more than two metres away from Larry.
CHRIS: Look, Xand, there's even on you.
XAND: Oh, yeah. It's all over me. It's just amazing how much mess he's made.
CHRIS: Well, this is exactly why Larry was invented, to show just how far drops of vomit can spread. And remember, each one of these splashes has enough virus in it to make you seriously ill.
XAND: So remember, if you're being sick yourself or you're looking after someone who's sick, it's really important to wash the whole area really carefully and wash your hands with soap and water to stop spreading the virus on.
CHRIS: But it's not all bad news. Vomiting can sometimes be your way of getting rid of things that are harmful.
XAND: This never would have happened if we'd just given him dry toast.
Video summary – vomit
The video begins with Dr. Chris explaining that vomiting is the body’s natural way of expelling harmful substances, such as bacteria or viruses that may be present in the stomach.
He breaks down the composition of vomit, highlighting the presence of butyric acid—a compound also found in parmesan cheese, which gives vomit its distinctive smell.
To demonstrate how illness can spread, the doctors introduce “Larry,” a vomiting robot. Larry shows how viruses can be projected into the air and onto surfaces during vomiting, helping students understand how infections can be transmitted to others.
Watch the video – diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
XAND: Chris, you haven't seen my diarrhoea sample anywhere have you? I can't find it anywhere. Ah, here it is. Now, let's get on with today's experiment, shall we? Have you got your sample?
XAND: Well, that isn't very runny. I thought we agreed on diarrhoea.
CHRIS: Look, I just thought it might be better to compare a normal, solid poo with the runny one.
CHRIS: Now, everyone gets diarrhoea from time to time. And one of the most common reasons is if you get a tummy bug and the result is that your body ejects the contents of your digestive system as quickly as possible.
XAND: Now, as you can see, Chris' plain, solid poo looks completely different to mine.
CHRIS: But that isn't the only difference. One of these poos weighs more.
VOICEOVER [MAN]: So which of them do you think weighs more? Chris' solid poo or Xand's runny poo?
XAND: As you can see, my diarrhoea poo is a lot heavier than Chris' normal poo. But why? Why is diarrhoea heavier and runnier than normal poo?
CHRIS: Well, we're gonna show you.Ah, Xand, welcome to my poo factory.
XAND: Wow! Wait a minute, are these my ballet tights?!
CHRIS: Yes. I'm just using them as part of the poo factory. And they are proving to be very, very effective fake intestines. But don't worry, don't worry, you can have them back later.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: First up, let's make a solid poo.
CHRIS: Get the masher.And mash.
XAND: This bowl is like the inside of your mouth chewing up the food.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: To help mash it up, your body adds saliva, enzymes, and it's all washed down with a drink.
CHRIS: Okay, Xand, I think that's enough. It's time to move it from the mouth to the intestines.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: This is like you swallowing.
CHRIS: Nice work.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: Once the mashed-up food hits your intestines, the muscular walls of your gut push the food along and squeeze out all the goodness.
CHRIS: So you can see this rich liquid full of all the nutrients and the water is coming out of the guts and going into the body, which is these metal trays. And what's left is the indigestible stuff that's gonna be-come your poo. Well, Xand, I think it's time to poo.
CHRIS: There you go. Much, much more solid than it was at the beginning. A nice, dry, well-formed poo. We have made the perfect poo. And look how much water is in the tray.
CHRIS: Our fake intestines managed to get almost all the water out of our poo.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: This water full of nutrients gets reabsorbed back into the body and delivered to where it's needed.
XAND: So, if that's what happens to make a normal poo, what happens when you make diarrhoea? Well, it all starts in the same way.
CHRIS: Right, Xand, put the food in the mouth and start chewing.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: Just as before, we have the same food and mixture, but this time our poor intestines are dealing with a tummy bug.
CHRIS: Time to swallow.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: So now something different happens.The tummy bug makes your guts draw in extra water from your body, pushing everything through your system super fast.
XAND: What I've got here is a high-pressure hose. And I'm gonna use this to demonstrate what happens when your guts draw in water from your body. Chris, are you ready?
CHRIS: I am ready.
XAND: Three, two, one, go!
CHRIS: Here it comes.
CHRIS: Ooooh, that's good, Xand. That's good. Uuurgh. Look at that.
XAND: [laughs]
CHRIS: That is amazing, Xand!Urgh, that's enough. Xand has turned my perfect poo factory into the world's first diarrhoea ma-chine.
VOICEOVER [CHRIS]: So, we've shown you that diarrhoea is heavier and runnier than normal poo 'cause your intestines don't get the chance to do their job and all the water that should have been absorbed like the normal poo ends up in the toilet.
XAND: And you can see that in our trays. There's almost no water in our trays at all with the diar-rhoea.
CHRIS: And that's why it's also a good idea to drink plenty of water or rehydration drinks when you have diarrhoea because they replace the nutrients and water your body has lost. Speaking of drinks, all this experimentation is making me thirsty.
XAND: Chris, I'm not sure you wanna be drinking that. That's my back-up diarrhoea sample.
CHRIS: Eeugh.
Video summary – diarrhoea
In this video, Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand explore the topic of diarrhoea in a clear and age-appropriate way. They begin by comparing two containers – one with solid poo and one with runny poo – to show the visual difference.
They explain that one of the most common causes of diarrhoea is a tummy bug, which can trigger the body to rapidly flush out the contents of the digestive system. The doctors also note that diarrhoea is heavier than normal poo.
To help students understand why, they conduct a hands-on experiment that demonstrates how digestion works and why diarrhoea contains more water, making it heavier.
Suggested activities
Before watching the videos, establish what pupils may know already about viruses, how they spread and how they are cured. Show the Immune system video to demonstrate how the immune system works to fight off infection (if appropriate, and if there is space, pupils could even re-enact the infection and leukocytes’ behaviour by taking on the roles of these).
After viewing, pupils could design their own ‘Leukocyte superhero’ like Dr Xand’s Lymph Node Man.
Ask pupils if they can tell you any symptoms of viruses or infections (e.g. sneezing, being sick, stomach upsets etc). How does having a virus make someone feel, and how does it affect our bodies? Find out also what they already know about ways to prevent viruses and illness being spread, then show the vomit and diarrhoea videos to demonstrate why hygiene and handwashing is so important.
After viewing, ask pupils to design some guidance about how to prevent viruses spreading for a younger year group – for example, a poster, a comic strip, a tips list. How can they use their learning from the video about how far particles of body fluids can spread?
You can watch more Operation Ouch! on iPlayer.
More videos from this series
Grief. video
Dr. Chris and Dr. Xand discuss the topic of grief with a group of schoolchildren.
Anxiety. video
Dr. Xand and Dr. Chris discuss anxiety with a group of schoolchildren.
Stress. video
Dr. Ronx tries out some stress-busting techniques with schoolchildren.
Food. video
Dr. Xand and Dr. Chris test the energy values of different foods.
Healthy heart video
Dr. Ronx teams up with a group of schoolchildren to explore how to keep the heart healthy.
Spots. video
Dr. Xand and Dr. Chris explain why we all get spots.
