Schools are a major contamination point for childhood illnesses. Large groups of children are held in confined spaces for hours each day, sharing equipment and supplies. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, children miss millions of school days each year because of infectious diseases spread in schools. Schools can't completely eliminate the spread of illness through groups of children, but those that practice effective cleaning methods and techniques can help reduce it.
Here are some of the illnesses that can be spread at schools, and how to combat them.
Foodborne Illness
Caused when children consume food or drink that has come into contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment. While the cafeteria kitchen and serving line are important parts of this equation, children who bring bag lunches are still susceptible because they put their food on cafeteria tables. The majority of foodborne illness in cafeteria settings are causes by noroviruses, which can be eliminated through the correct sanitary procedures.
Influenza
The flu virus is spread from person to person by sneezing or coughing, so it's simple for children to spread it to each other by coughing over desks and other equipment. This leaves surfaces contaminated and ready to infect the next child who touches them. Very tough to eliminate during the annual "flu season," influenza can be controlled to a great extent by sticking with daily cleaning routines.
MRSA
MRSA is a staph infection that's resistant to antibiotics. MRSA is spread by touch, when infected hands and other body parts come into contact with desks and other surfaces. A school cleaning program that eliminates bacteria and other germs instead of spreading them is one of the best ways to keep MRSA in check in schools.
A Better Cleaning Solution
Traditional mops and rags pick up bacteria the first time they wipe over a surface, then deposit them into the cleaning bucket. Every time the solution in the bucket is used again, it spreads more bacteria over the supposedly clean surfaces. To help eliminate diseases spread in schools, a better system is needed. The Kaivac No-Touch cleaning system allows maintenance workers to clean school restrooms and kitchens without spreading bacteria around, and the KaiFly surface cleaning system removes soil and bacteria from desks, kitchen surfaces, and counters with a sanitary squeegee system. Both systems remove the bacteria instead of spreading it around, leaving surfaces much cleaner and safer than those cleaned with traditional methods.
For more information on cleaning schools and keeping them safe, click here.