--- title: School Absenteeism Due to Illness - Fact or Fiction? description: School Absenteeism Due to Illness - Fact or Fiction? --- - **[SEARCH](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/search-0)** ** - **[CONTACT US](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/contact-us)** - **SDS** - [**Companion Animal**](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/companion-animal-msds) - [**Farm Animal**](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/farm-animal-msds) ## Something Powerful # Resources     ## School Absenteeism Due to Illness - Fact or Fiction? 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.  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](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/education/july-dec96/school_funding_10-03.html) 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](http://www.talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/urgently-needed-1-angry-bird-knapsack.html), 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](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19903773)*" 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](http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm) virus and [Norovirus](http://www.talkcleantome.blogspot.ca/2012/01/norovirus-dont-make-it-your-winter.html) was frequently found on these surfaces as well. As with the hand hygiene study, [Gerba](https://swes.cals.arizona.edu/people/faculty/charles-p-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. 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. 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? *Bugging Off!* * * * * Nicole ## Search All Resources ## Browse by Category - MSDS/SDS - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/companion-animal-msds) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/farm-animal-msds) - [Protocols & Procedures](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/protocols-and-procedures-companion-animal) - • Farm Animal → [CDN](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/farm-animal-canada) | [USA](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/protocols-and-procedures-farm-animal) - [Technical Bulletins](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/techncial-bulletins-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/technical-bulletins-farm-animal) - [Pathogen Fact Sheets](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/pathogen-fact-sheets) - [Industry Guidelines](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-guidelines) - [Industry Publications](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-publications-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/industry-publications-farm-animal) - [Product Use Information](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/product-use-information-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/product-use-information-farm-animal) - [Reference Sheets](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/reference-sheets-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/reference-sheets-farm-animal) - [AHP® Abstracts & Research Posters](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-abstracts-research-posters-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-abstracts-research-posters-farm-animal) - [AHP® Peer Reviewed Articles](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/talkcleantome/2013/08/school-absenteeism-due-to-illness-fact.html#) - [• Companion Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-peer-reviewed-articles-companion-animal) - [• Farm Animal →](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-peer-reviewed-articles-farm-animal) - [AHP® vs Competitive Chemistries ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/resources/topic/ahp-vs-competitive-chemistries) - [ AHP® Compatibility ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/ahp-compatibility) - [ Testimonials ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/testimonials) - [ Videos ](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/videos) - [ Fear Free](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/fear-free-and-ahp) - [ Blog](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/blog)       [![BottomLogoGrey-VAH](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ViroxAnimalHealth/Logos/BottomLogoGrey-VAH.jpg?width=100&name=BottomLogoGrey-VAH.jpg "BottomLogoGrey-VAH")](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/) [CONTACT US](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/contact-us)  |  [PRIVACY POLICY](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/privacy-policy)  |  [TERMS OF USE](https://www.viroxanimalhealth.com/terms-of-use) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.youtube.com/user/ViroxAHP) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/virox-animal-health) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://twitter.com/AHPbiosecurity) [** ** (open in a new window)](https://www.facebook.com/ViroxAnimalHealth/)   © 2003-2022 VIROX TECHNOLOGIES INC [Virox® Animal Health is a division of Virox® Technologies Inc.](http://www.virox.com/) Website by [BOLD](http://www.boldinternet.com/) AHP® and Design and Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® and Design are trademarks of Diversey, Inc.