Page 10 - spaces4learning, Fall 2021

spaces4learning K-12
Remember, proper hand hygiene includes:
• Wetting your hands with running water, then turning the tap off
• Lathering hands with soap and scrubbing the front and backs of your hands and between fingers for at least 20 seconds
• Thoroughly rinsing hands
• Drying hands with a clean towel or air drier
Hands should always be washed:
• After using the bathroom
• Before and after eating a meal
• After coughing or sneezing
• After returning from school
Administrators and Educators
Sick days are expensive! Between extra time teachers spend catching students up, lost workdays for parents and paying for substitute teachers, sick days cost the U.S. approximately $120 billion each year (CDC). Through promoting hand hygiene and instilling proper cleaning and disinfecting practices throughout the entire school community (which has the potential to extend to the home), administrators can help ensure better health and education outcomes.
in 4 schools does not employ a school nurse, making a nurse’s time and expertise even more valuable (National Association of School Nurses). We encourage school nurses to develop an action plan, engage students and get the school community in- volved. To create a culture of clean in a school, nurses can help
As administrators lead their school communities, be sure to set the example for staff and students by washing your hands regularly and providing the necessary supplies to help students and staff keep clean and safe. Work with school nurses and cus- todial staff to ensure facilities are
prepared for the return of stu-
dents with the correct amount of
supplies including hand sanitiz-
er, soap, disinfectants and other
cleaning supplies.
get facilities ready for the return of students by ensuring hand sanitizer dispensers are in place and reinforcing proper hand hy- giene by placing reminders and informational posters in class- rooms and near bathroom sinks.
As an authority figure, set the example by teaching students how to reduce the spread of germs and practicing proper hand
hygiene at all times.
Parents
All learning and healthy habits truly begin in the home. At ACI, we know how fun and yet how difficult it can be to teach young children how to stay clean and healthy. Teach them proper hand- washing techniques, how to cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing and to not share drinks or food items with other kids. Show them how to stop the spread of germs by letting them watch you wash your hands and keep the house clean.
As your kids return to school, consider introducing some new practices to your after-school routine:
• Leave backpacks, shoes and outerwear near the door.
• Wash hands when kids get home from school.
• Wash and dry face masks where applicable.
• Stay alert, monitor children’s health and keep them home if
they are sick.
By continuing to reinforce good hygiene habits at home, you will help protect the health of your family, school and community.
Teachers and staff who are
pressed for time and are taking
on additional cleaning respon-
sibilities throughout the school
cleaning process by disinfecting frequently-touched surfaces like tables, keyboards, sink faucets and shared supplies. As part of teaching proper hand hygiene, teachers should give students time to wash hands at key moments throughout the day, like af- ter using the bathroom, going to lunch and returning from re- cess. Other classroom cleaning tips include minimizing shared supplies, decreasing clutter and keeping sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol easily accessible — though supervised — for times when hand washing isn’t possible.
As teachers are called on to clean more than usual, remem- ber to never mix cleaning products and to always read the label and follow directions prior to cleaning and disinfecting. Where possible, open doors and windows to ensure adequate ventila- tion, and store all disinfectants out of reach of students.
School Nurses
School nurses can make a critical difference in preventing the spread of infectious diseases in schools. In the U.S. today, only 39.3% of schools employ full-time school nurses and 1
10 FALL 2021 | spaces4learning.com
ALL LEARNING AND HEALTHY HABITS TRULY BEGIN IN THE HOME.
day can help streamline the