“The fact that this disease has caused illness, including illness resulting in death, and sustained person-to-person spread is concerning. These factors meet two of the criteria of a pandemic. As community spread is detected in more and more countries, the world moves closer toward meeting the third criteria, worldwide spread of the new virus.” – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on COVID-19
In other words, this virus is no joke. Every living person (and creature) is at risk of contracting this disease. And this very much includes children. Schools are facilities designed to promote the intellectual growth of those attending. However, they can also promote a breeding ground for bacteria and other diseases.
So, at a time where we are dealing with super-flu Coronavirus, it is imperative to prevent it. We as parents, school staff, and janitorial workers take the proper precautions to stop this disease from spreading (and hopefully stop it from reaching our schools in the first place).
Below are some useful tips for keeping COVID-19 at bay:
COVID-19 Fighter #1: Disinfecting
Start with you. Whenever you come in contact with public areas and surfaces, it is important that you properly wash your hands immediately after. By properly, we mean using high-grade antibacterial soap and gently rubbing your hands to create some foam for at least 20 seconds, then rinsing thoroughly.
If antibacterial soap and water are not accessible to you, make it a much-necessary habit to carry some hand sanitizer with you wherever you go. Use it frequently whenever you’re out, and then follow-up with a nice hand wash whenever you’re by a sink.
Anyone in schools should also follow this protocol, especially children. After all activities (considerably recess), students should wash their hands with supervision from teachers and staff to ensure proper cleanliness. As far as classrooms, all materials should be wiped down at the end of the day. This will prevent any germs or bacteria from breeding. Tables, chairs, and doorknobs should also be disinfected using disposable wipes, as these are the common areas that students mainly encounter.
COVID-19 Fighter #2: Vaccination and Preventative Medicine
According to the CDC, getting vaccinated each year is “the single best way to prevent seasonal flu.” This is also extremely crucial for children, as they may not be able to fight off the flu as easily as an adult and are usually more susceptible to getting sick. It’s worth giving a shot.
If for any reason, however, vaccination is out of the question, perhaps administering age-appropriate preventative cold and flu medicine would suffice as an alternative. No matter which route parents choose to take, ensuring your child stays hydrated, eats plentiful and gets good rest is also a great additive for preventing the flu. And preventing the spread at schools!
COVID-19 Fighter #3: Stay Home
Coronavirus Disease is basically a family of flu viruses. So, if contracted, a lot of the COVID-19 symptoms will be those similar to the seasonal flu: fever, cold, coughing, sneezing, sinus infections, and so on. If a child exhibits any of these symptoms, they should stay home. This will avoid spreading the flu to other children at school. Proper measures should be taken immediately. Call the doctor’s office to explain your situation and how you can go about treatment.
The same goes for parents, teachers, and staff! By staying home, you prevent others from contracting this disease. You also protect yourself from making it worse. You allow yourself the needed space and time to seek treatment and heal. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
COVID-19 Fighter #4: Hire Cleaning Experts
If your educational facility is truly concerned about COVID-19 from coming into contact with students and your school, hire cleaning professionals who can thoroughly and accurately disinfect your school. Classrooms, restrooms, hallways and other designated areas should be cleaned.
It’s worth the investment.
Here at Service Keepers Maintenance, Inc., we use top-quality chemicals and advanced equipment to get the job done efficiently, effectively and conveniently. Our hospital-grade chemicals will leave your facility ready for use. Our disinfecting methods for large areas will ensure we get every nook-and-cranny as safely as possible.
The safety of your facility is important to us. Get in touch with Service Keepers today and we’ll gladly let you know how we can keep your schools disease-free.
