Back-to-School Germs Spread Through Shared Desks and Doorknobs: Here’s How to Stop Them
Pediatricians and CDC guidance reveal the easy hygiene habits that can help reduce the spread of germs at school and at home.
Back-to-school germs can spread through shared desks, close contact and the many shared spaces kids encounter throughout the school day. They’re hard to dodge entirely, but a few simple habits can help kids keep more of them out of the house.
How can handwashing help kids avoid back-to-school germs?
Regular handwashing with soap and water is one of the best habits parents can teach to cut down on back-to-school germs. Tufts Medical Center pediatrician Charles Hannum, MD, recommends kids wash their hands before eating, after using the bathroom and as soon as they get home from school, according to Tufts.
CDC guidance says handwashing at school helps prevent the spread of both respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. When soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol works as a backup. Parents can reinforce the routine at home so kids learn to wash without constant reminders, building the habit into daily life.
What is the best way to teach kids cough and sneeze etiquette?
Teach kids to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow instead of their hands, which spread germs to everything they touch next.
Used tissues should go directly into the trash, the CDC says, and kids should wash their hands after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing. Practicing these habits at home can help reinforce the routine and reduce the spread of back-to-school germs, especially for younger kids who may need regular reminders about good hygiene.
How do shared surfaces at school spread germs?
Back-to-school germs can spread through shared objects and close contact, moving easily between items that many kids touch every day.
The CDC recommends routinely cleaning frequently touched surfaces and objects such as desks, doorknobs, computer keyboards, phones and toys. Specialized or enhanced cleaning and disinfection is rarely needed outside of specific situations such as an outbreak. Parents can help by wiping down items kids bring home, including lunchboxes, water bottles and backpacks. Reminding kids to keep their hands away from their face during the school day also cuts down on how often germs from shared surfaces reach the eyes, nose and mouth, which is how many respiratory illnesses find a way in.
Why do pediatricians say handwashing is the best defense against school germs?
Cleveland Clinic Children’s pediatrician Dr. Gina Robinson calls handwashing “the simplest and still the best way” to reduce the spread of many germs kids encounter at school, according to Cleveland Clinic.
The CDC says parents and caregivers play an important role in teaching kids when and how to wash their hands, and consistent practice at home helps the habit stick. Making handwashing part of kids’ routines at home, school and play can turn it into a lasting healthy habit that helps limit the spread of back-to-school germs. Combined with covering coughs and good hygiene habits, regular handwashing gives families a practical way to reduce how often back-to-school germs make the trip from classroom to living room.
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