Help Prevent the Spread of the Flu this School Year
Kids get sick, we all know this. But there are so many easy to follow procedures to help prevent the spread of the flu to each and every student this year. If you are a school administrator, continue reading the small changes and recommendations that your staff and kids can begin making come fall.
Our first recommendation is to encourage staff, students and parents to get a yearly flu vaccine. The flu virus changes each year, so getting a vaccine last year will most likely not protect against the new strain. Before the year starts, or during the first week of classes, send home a flyer or an automatic email with a reminder to get the vaccine and even clinics in the area where students and parents can receive free vaccines.
The next point we want to make is to take preventative actions to help prevent the spread of the flu. Encourage younger students and staff alike to use good hygiene habits. Washing hands after using the restroom and offering a hand sanitizer solution to use. Have everyone cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing, promptly followed by hand washing and use of hand sanitizer. If your students or staff are sick, encourage them to stay home at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or symptoms of a fever. Your maintenance staff should routinely clean surfaces and objects that are touched often, like desks, counters, door knobs or computers.
Finally, your job is to educate your staff, parents and students on what to do if someone in the classroom gets sick. You should educate on the signs of the flu and who the high risk groups are. If you do realize that someone in your school system is sick, do your best to separate them from others until they can be sent home to recover. Schools have been beginning to designating a “sick room” for those that could be contagious and are at risk for passing on the virus to others.
When thinking about the upcoming school year, are you under prepared with products to disinfect tiny hands, or clean up bodily fluids if someone does get sick? Contact Safetec of America to begin preparing for the school year and we will get you setup with everything that you need to have a safe school year.
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