Germy Schools Take Two
And now that we’ve been convinced there’s a problem, Clorox and the CDC offer us a solution!
Help to Expel Germs
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 52 million cases of the common cold each year among Americans under the age of 17. With illness keeping students out of school for a national average of four days a year, experts advise parents to devise a plan of action for how to deal with their kids’ sick days.Donna Mazyck, president of the National Association of School Nurses offers the following tips for helping to reduce the spread of germs in the classroom:
— Teach children hand-washing habits; it is one of the most important thing teachers can do to help prevent illness during the school year. Use warm, soapy water and rub hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds (about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.)— Use disinfecting wipes regularly on commonly touched classroom surfaces to decrease the level of germs that can cause illness.
— Encourage kids to cough and sneeze into their elbows, not their hands (where they’re more likely to spread viruses through touch).
— Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth, as these are easy ways to transmit germs after coming into contact with contaminated surfaces.
— If you are uncertain about when to keep a sick child home, it’s important to talk with your school nurse or doctor.
Clorox is providing tips and tools for teachers to help them expel germs from their classroom. For more information on promoting a healthier classroom, teachers can sign up at http://www.cloroxclassrooms.com to download free “Clean Up the Classroom” lesson plans, children’s games and more.
School, Teachers, Germs, Classrooms
