Over 6.5 million children in the United States (about 13%) miss more than 15 days of school each year, which can put them at risk for poor school performance and have negative impacts on their long-term health, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).1 This concerning trend can be linked to asthma and acute illnesses, two of the leading causes of school absences that are often directly linked with how schools are cleaned.2
So, how you can you maintain cleaner, healthier classrooms?
Through their partnership with OMNIA Partners, ODP Business Solutions offers a variety of solutions and products to help your classroom remain prepared to fight off any seasonal germs. Here are 4 steps a school can take to help maintain a cleaner environment that enhances student well-being, boosts teacher satisfaction, and improves attendance.
Indoor Air Quality
Poor air quality in school environments may cause respiratory problems and exposure to various pollutants in school buildings may cause damage to students' health, according to recent studies.3 It's important that heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems are regularly serviced and meet all code requirements.
Additionally, opening windows and using portable air cleaners to improve air quality inside a building can be beneficial. Check out the selection of portable air purifiers and wall-mounted air purifiers ODP Business Solutions has to offer.
Train Teachers and Staff in Good Cleaning Practices
Teachers and custodians should understand the importance of regular cleaning and how to use cleaning products safely. These recommendations extend to the importance of the cleaning agents themselves. Too many schools rely on harsh disinfectants for routine cleaning, when common cleaners would be sufficient, according to the National Education Assocation (NEA).4
It's hard to know every cleaner your school might need, but ODP has a large variety of products to cover those basic (and more complex!) sanitization needs such as furniture cleaners, floor cleaners, disinfectant wipes, rubber gloves and more.
Clean High-Contact Surfaces More Often
Cleaning surfaces that are touched frequently is an effective way of combatting illness in the classroom. The CDC states that cleaning regularly is enough to stop bacteria or viruses in most situations and that high-contact surfaces like desktops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, stair rails, pens, keyboards, and toys should be cleaned more regularly.5
When it comes to hitting those hot spots for germs, ODP Business Solutions has a variety of cleaners you might need. Whether that's bathroom cleaners, sanitizing sprays or wipes - never go without!
Encourage Students to Practice Good Hand-Hygiene Habits
Washing hands is one of the most effective ways to combat germs - and can help reduce the level of classroom absences. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and encourages schools to integrate hand-hygiene lessons in K-12 schools and Early Care and Education (ECE) program curricula to regularly remind children of the importance of keeping hands clean!6
ODP Business Solutions can help keep your sink stocked with their selection of hand sanitizers, hand soaps, and soap dispensers they offer.
Sources:
1 https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/2/e20183648/37326/The-Link-Between-School-Attendance-and-Good-Health?autologincheck=redirected
2 https://healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/how-a-school-is-cleaned-might-be-affecting-attendance/#
3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710222009202
4 https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/ensuring-safe-and-just-schools-cleaning-and-disinfection
5 https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/cleaning/facility.html
6 https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/handwashing-school.html#