Best Practices for Maintaining a Healthy Learning Environment

Education is essential for the growth and development of our children, but it often comes with a hidden cost: the spread of germs and illnesses. Schools can easily become breeding grounds for respiratory infections like the common cold and COVID-19, posing a risk to both students and staff. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 22 million school days are lost each year in the United States due to the common cold alone. Let’s explore why children are particularly vulnerable, how germs spread within educational institutions, and the importance of implementing effective measures to maintain a healthy learning environment.

Why Children Are at Risk?

Children, especially those in close quarters like schools and universities, are at a heightened risk of contracting and spreading infectious diseases. Their developing immune systems may not be as robust as those of adults, making them more susceptible to infections. Moreover, children often lack the awareness and habits necessary for proper hygiene, such as frequent handwashing or using hand sanitizer and coughing or sneezing into their elbows. These factors, combined with the close contact inherent in educational settings, create a perfect storm for germ transmission.

How Germs Spread

Respiratory infections like the common cold and COVID-19 can spread rapidly within schools. Germs are typically transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or even breathes. In crowded classrooms and common areas, these respiratory droplets can easily find new hosts, leading to outbreaks that disrupt learning and put the health of students and staff at risk. When children get sick, they may miss school, leading to academic setbacks and impacting their overall well-being.

Flu Season Tips for Schools and Universities

Maintaining a healthy learning environment during flu season and beyond requires a multifaceted approach. Here are some essential tips:

• Promote Vaccination: Encourage students, staff, and families to get vaccinated against influenza and other preventable diseases. Higher vaccination rates can help reduce the spread of germs.

• Ventilation: Improve ventilation systems to enhance air circulation and reduce the concentration of airborne germs. Adequate ventilation is crucial for preventing the spread of respiratory infections.

• Hand Hygiene: Educate students about the importance of proper handwashing and provide accessible handwashing stations with soap and water.

• Social Distancing: When feasible, maintain physical distancing measures to reduce close contact among students and staff.

• Disinfecting surfaces: Proper cleaning and disinfection of high-touch surfaces is essential to reduce the spread of germs and illnesses.

Discover the Wide Arsenal of Flu-Fighting Solutions We Offer

To combat the spread of germs and maintain a healthy learning environment, educational institutions can take advantage of various tools and strategies:

• Infection Control Plan: A sanitization service designed by Rentokil Boecker® to safely and effectively eliminate all microorganisms, stop the spread of germs and provide a healthy environment

• Vortex™: Deep cleans & eliminates dust, fungus, mould and bacteria from your AC system.

• Mould Remediation: Our thorough mould service focuses on problematic infestation areas.

• VirusKiller™ Air Purifiers: Our VirusKiller™ units help create a safer environment and break the chain of airborne transmission.

Schools and universities must be proactive in implementing measures to control the spread of germs, especially during flu season and in the face of emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19. By promoting healthy hygiene habits and utilising our advanced germ control solutions, educational institutions can create safer environments where students can thrive. Together, we can ensure that our children have the opportunity to learn and grow in a healthy and protected space.