Back-to-school is a fun time of year. New memories to make, and new routines, if you’re a parent, then you get a change of pace and possibly some relief from the constant snacking and entertaining. However, some consequences of the back-to-school season impact not just students & their families, but the entire community.
We’re talking about the “back-to-school-yuckies”. Our youngsters are like walking petri dishes. They’re pros at bad hand hygiene and experts at sharing infections. It doesn’t help that back-to-school comes when COVID/flu/RSV season begins. More time spent inside buildings and seasons changing means less sunlight and, therefore, less vitamin D.
Week 1-2: Children get sick
They go to school, meet new friends, catch-up with old buddies, and share thousands of surfaces and inhale often inadequately decontaminated indoor air. Before they know it giggles turn to sniffles, bright eyes turn into fevers, and appetites succumb to tummy-bugs.
Week 2-3: Families get sick
When your Petri dishes are incubating their “yuckies”, they have no symptoms and no awareness that they are bearing undesirables. So when they come home everything is business as usual. Hugs & kisses, wrestling & rough-housing, and of course, sharing is caring. So by the time symptoms do present, the entire family’s been thoroughly marinated in the contamination. One by one everyone comes down; brother, sister, dad, and worst of all, Mom. Now we’re talking doctor’s visits and time away from work.
Week 3-4: Communities get sick
At the end of the day, we’re all just older versions of our children. If you ever want a quick gross out look up some adult hand hygiene statistics. So while all the adults were asymptomatic and going about their daily routines, they didn’t realize they were exhaling their children’s “yuckies” and contaminating shared touchpoints with their kid’s friend’s family’s germs! The workplace, shopping carts, and gas pumps are now culprits of this annual ritual. Body temperatures rise, productivity drops and medicine shelves are raided.
What can we do but brace for impact? Well, it would be a lie to say that this cycle can be completely stopped, and it can be argued that a certain amount of exposure is essential for a healthy immune system. However, facility managers and business owners are responsible for ensuring that they provide an environment that does its part to mitigate the spread of infections in their facility. They owe it to their guests, customers, and staff. It directly impacts their bottom line.
Partnering with a professional cleaning service provider that has a plan for this time of year and can provide more than a “spray and pray” service is essential. Some providers even offer indoor air quality solutions that decontaminate and monitor the environment in real time. If you aren’t sure, ask your cleaning service provider about their strategy to reduce the spread of infection in your facility.
-Mal J. Smith | Victory Lab Micro-Clean