For many, September 3rd marks the first day of school. Some parents will be celebrating the fact
that life can again get back to some semblance of a routine while other parents
may be dreading the juggling of extracurricular activities. For me, it signifies the potential start of a
10-month cycle of sickness.
that life can again get back to some semblance of a routine while other parents
may be dreading the juggling of extracurricular activities. For me, it signifies the potential start of a
10-month cycle of sickness.
School absenteeism due to illness is not fiction. In the United States, there are approximately
164 MILLION lost school days each year among students in kindergarten to grade
12 which averages out to 4.5 sick days per student per year. In fact, some studies have shown that kindergarteners on average have 12 colds a year, while older kids develop about
seven. In a society where school reimbursement is directly related to attendance this can mean the loss of a
significant portion of the schools funding.
Reimbursement numbers vary from district to district, but generally
average $30 - $50 per student. To a
school district with a student population of 50,000 that receives a $30/student
reimbursement, a daily absenteeism rate of 1% can mean a loss of
$15,000/day. Assuming that same district
of 50,000 students averages 4.5 sick days each, by the end of the school year
we are talking big bucks - $6.75 MILLION to be exact!
164 MILLION lost school days each year among students in kindergarten to grade
12 which averages out to 4.5 sick days per student per year. In fact, some studies have shown that kindergarteners on average have 12 colds a year, while older kids develop about
seven. In a society where school reimbursement is directly related to attendance this can mean the loss of a
significant portion of the schools funding.
Reimbursement numbers vary from district to district, but generally
average $30 - $50 per student. To a
school district with a student population of 50,000 that receives a $30/student
reimbursement, a daily absenteeism rate of 1% can mean a loss of
$15,000/day. Assuming that same district
of 50,000 students averages 4.5 sick days each, by the end of the school year
we are talking big bucks - $6.75 MILLION to be exact!
The effect of implementing a hand hygiene program in
schools to reduce infections has been well documented by a number of
studies. In our back-to-school blog last
year, URGENTLY NEEDED - 1 Angry Bird Knapsack, I highlighted a study that
reported after a hand hygiene program was implemented where student's used hand
sanitizer 3 times per day that the number of students who missed four or more
days due to illness dropped by 66%!
schools to reduce infections has been well documented by a number of
studies. In our back-to-school blog last
year, URGENTLY NEEDED - 1 Angry Bird Knapsack, I highlighted a study that
reported after a hand hygiene program was implemented where student's used hand
sanitizer 3 times per day that the number of students who missed four or more
days due to illness dropped by 66%!
A study published in 2009 in the Journal of School
Nursing by Gerba et al titled "Occurrence of bacteria and viruses on elementary classroom surfaces and the potential role of classroom hygiene in the spread of infectious diseases" explored the survival of bacteria and
viruses on surfaces in classrooms in an attempt to determine if an
environmental hygiene program using disinfecting wipes could reduce infections. In the study, disinfecting wipes were used
daily (each morning before students arrived) to clean surfaces within
classrooms. The study found that the
water fountain handle and the manual pencil sharpener, both of which are used
by numerous students throughout the day were two of the most bacterially
contaminated classroom surfaces. The
sink faucet handle, the paper towel dispenser and the student desktops were
most often contaminated by Influenza A virus and Norovirus was frequently found
on these surfaces as well.
Nursing by Gerba et al titled "Occurrence of bacteria and viruses on elementary classroom surfaces and the potential role of classroom hygiene in the spread of infectious diseases" explored the survival of bacteria and
viruses on surfaces in classrooms in an attempt to determine if an
environmental hygiene program using disinfecting wipes could reduce infections. In the study, disinfecting wipes were used
daily (each morning before students arrived) to clean surfaces within
classrooms. The study found that the
water fountain handle and the manual pencil sharpener, both of which are used
by numerous students throughout the day were two of the most bacterially
contaminated classroom surfaces. The
sink faucet handle, the paper towel dispenser and the student desktops were
most often contaminated by Influenza A virus and Norovirus was frequently found
on these surfaces as well.
As with the hand hygiene study, Gerba et al found that
the classrooms that were cleaned and disinfected each morning with a
disinfectant wipe had a statistically significant reduction in student
absenteeism due to illness suggesting that proper classroom environmental
hygiene program could reduce the transfer of bacteria and viruses from
environmental surfaces to students hands.
the classrooms that were cleaned and disinfected each morning with a
disinfectant wipe had a statistically significant reduction in student
absenteeism due to illness suggesting that proper classroom environmental
hygiene program could reduce the transfer of bacteria and viruses from
environmental surfaces to students hands.
As you prepare to send your kids back to school ask
yourself one of two questions: how much sick time did I save over the summer to
use this fall as bacteria or viruses invade my home and what can I do to
prepare my children to battle these vicious little bugs? The truth is keeping them healthy throughout
the entire school year may be unrealistic.
However; if you take some time to teach your child to keep their hands
clean by washing before eating and after EACH time they use the bathroom, teach
them the importance of not sharing hats, makeup, towels etc and teach them to
keep their area clean you may significantly improve your odds of not having to
miss work to look after your sick child.
At the very least if you pack hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in
their lunch box and instill the importance of sanitizing their hands and
cleaning their desk before eating you'll still be a step ahead.
yourself one of two questions: how much sick time did I save over the summer to
use this fall as bacteria or viruses invade my home and what can I do to
prepare my children to battle these vicious little bugs? The truth is keeping them healthy throughout
the entire school year may be unrealistic.
However; if you take some time to teach your child to keep their hands
clean by washing before eating and after EACH time they use the bathroom, teach
them the importance of not sharing hats, makeup, towels etc and teach them to
keep their area clean you may significantly improve your odds of not having to
miss work to look after your sick child.
At the very least if you pack hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes in
their lunch box and instill the importance of sanitizing their hands and
cleaning their desk before eating you'll still be a step ahead.
I wonder, instead of grounding a child for bad marks,
what would happen if we grounded them for each day they were sick....do you
think they would start washing their hands and cleaning their desks then?
what would happen if we grounded them for each day they were sick....do you
think they would start washing their hands and cleaning their desks then?
Bugging Off!
Nicole
