Health Standards to Protect Customers
Health safety protocols have always been a high priority for schools across the globe. However, as face-to-face class registration opens up and students begin to attend classes once more, it can be seen that health safety has risen to the very top of the list.
Some of the most common and effective practices to protect the health of students and teachers alike include proper hand hygiene, cleaning/disinfection, ventilation, as well as vaccinations. Below we reiterate some of these more common health practices which you will likely recognize from your own business.
Hand Washing
Hand hygiene, as the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, is one example of this. Schools often teach and reinforce proper handwashing behavior in their students and employees as it reduces the risk of spreading infections by removing the pathogens from the hands and preventing them from entering the body or passing on to others via skin-to-skin contact..
To support the effectiveness of hand washing, it is suggested that one lather their hands thoroughly with an antibacterial soap for at least twenty (20) seconds—making sure to get between the fingers and under the nails—before rinsing well under clean water, and then drying them with a clean towel or allowing them to air dry. It is not recommended to use an electric hand dryer as hand dryers actually blow pathogens right back onto the newly washed hands–defeating the purpose of washing them.
As an alternative to hand washing, you may know that hand sanitizer is often readily available in schools and extracurricular organizations. The recommendation is that the sanitizer contain at least 60% alcohol. This is because alcohol-based sanitizer is extremely effective against the majority of bacteria and viruses which may be transferred via hand contact. However, while it is a very easy way to quickly clean the hands in a rush, sanitizer should be stored safely away from younger children as it can be dangerous if ingested in large amounts.
(It should also be noted that sanitizers cannot remove all types of germs, and may not be as effective on visibly soiled hands. They may also not remove harmful chemicals from hands to the same degree as proper hand washing.)
Cleaning and Disinfection
Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces is another major way to prevent the spread of germs.
Schools and classrooms are often cleaned at least once a day, which is a good rule of thumb when preventing germs from spreading through surface touch. However, this strategy can be further improved through following recommended procedures for cleaning, santifizing, and disinfection. These protocols can be very individualistic to your organization, but can also be easily found on the CDC website or using the following link; Disinfection procedures.
Generally, when in a non-healthcare setting, surfaces are most often cleaned with water and soap before following up with a chemical disinfectant such as bleach/chlorine or alcohol. Chlorine/bleach is generally used at a recommended concentration of 0.1% (or 1 part of 5% strength household bleach to 49 parts of water). 70-90% alcohol is a common alternative used for surface disinfection when chlorine/bleach is not an option.
It is important to note that disinfectant solutions are always prepared in well-ventilated areas. It is also a common practice that hands should also be thoroughly washed after using any form of chlorine or bleach (even in the form of surface wipes), and disinfectants kept out of reach of children. Finally, gloves and masks are typically disposed of after cleaning.
While once a day is the norm for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, you may notice that you clean more frequently in high traffic areas such as reception rooms, classrooms, and bathrooms. This is a great practice, and especially important in heavily frequented areas which do not have access to handwashing stations/hand sanitizer, are visited by those who may be sick (nurses offices), or are poorly ventilated.
Ventilation
While it is common in society to practice polite coughing and sneezing habits (by covering the mouth and nose), you may know that having good ventilation is one way you can go the extra mile in protecting students and faculty.
Additional steps which can be taken to increase and improve air filtration include using portable air cleaners or installing ventilation which have HEPA filters, and increasing airflow through open windows and doors. Another alternative is holding programs and activities outdoors, if feasible, during times when viruses are more prevalently spreading.
Studies have shown that portable air cleaners and ventilation with HEPA filters have a positive effect on those who suffer from other respiratory issues. These types of filters also became very prevalent throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as they helped to provide safer indoor environments and reduce the spread of the virus.
You may know that HEPA filter stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air filter. These filters have the capability to remove pathogens larger than 0.3 microns in size, meaning they catch and remove more than 99.9% of the particles from the air whether it be allergens, viruses, bacteria, or dust.
However, another simpler option to increase air ventilation in a space is to open the doors and windows in the room. Increasing the circulation of air throughout a room can keep virus particles from accumulating inside—the wider the better, but even having a window slightly ajar can help.
How can I go above and beyond to protect the health of my faculty and students?
If you believe in going to the next level to protect your customers health, then you know that a major necessity for any organization is to be up to date on the health of customers. Not only is this applicable to the day to day, but also the long term.
ProClass, as a class management software, allows for more than just class registration. Our software also provides easy access to all the important health information necessary for an organization to run smoothly. We provide you with individualistic and in-depth customization of fields for various purposes including (but not limited to) chronic health complications such as asthma and diabetes, as well as physical disabilities. Our online registration software can aid you in overall class management just as well as it can maintain and protect the enrolled students’ relevant medical history.
If you think ProClass might be able to help your organization take the next step in protecting your student’s health, contact us today at 866-337-1267 or online at https://proclasssoftware.com/support/.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Cleaning and disinfecting your facility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html#anchor_1617548426741https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facilihttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html#anchor_1617548426741ty.html#anchor_1617548426741
Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). what is a hepa filter. EPA. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-hepa-filter
U.S. Department of Education. US Department of Education. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://sites.ed.gov/roadmap/health-safety/
