It's Germ Warfare in Kid Classrooms

Dishing About Dirt in Schools

It comes as no surprise that schools and daycares are far from clean. That doesn't mean the dirt is obvious; after all, most teachers and providers encourage order and cleanliness as much as possible. It's what lurks at the microscophic level that is potentially more dangerous than we realize. A study by Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, concluded that the average school desk contains 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Ewwwww! It's easy to misjudge the infectiousness of common surfaces, but the reality is that when you put lots of kids in a classroom or daycare environment together, germ warfare is inevitable. But there are defenses that can help your kid stay healthy.

What can parents do to protect their kids from germs?

• The tried-and-true defense continues to be robust and regular handwashing. Some teachers encourage kids to spend extra time washing hands by singing a song like Happy Birthday two times with soapy hands before rinsing.



• Make sure immunizations are current. Shots kept on schedule continue to be the best protection.



• Use hand sanitizer to augment hand-washing routines. Some school teachers keep a big bottle right by the door to the classroom and encourage kids to take a squirt and rub on their hands every single time they enter or exit the classroom throughout the day. (Parents are often all-too-willing to buy a bottle or two throughout the year to help encourage clean hands.)



• Know that any surface that is exposed to kids' breathing or touch is potentially infectious. A school can have the very best of custodial services, but the reality is that when large numbers of kids enter a facility, germs come right in as well.



• Insist on a stringent "no sick kids" policy. And while you may feel a tad guilty, don't hesitate to complain if you see your child's classmate exhibiting signs of sickness at school. Bottom line is that nobody wants to have their child become ill, but kids getting colds, flu, strep throat, and other ailments is inevitable. The key is that sick kids should stay at home to avoid the spread of the bad bugs.
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