Hygiene concerns in educational facilities are paramount for the health and well-being of students, teachers, and staff.
Education Facility-Specific Hygiene Concerns
Maintaining a clean and sanitary environment in schools is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases and promote a positive learning environment.
Hygiene intervention strategies specifically tailored toward educational facilities should include a focus on the following:
Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the transmission of germs.
Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs.
Clean hands can help stop germs from spreading from one person to another and in our communities—including your home, workplace, schools, and childcare facilities. [1]
Schools should promote regular handwashing among students, teachers, and staff, especially before meals, after using the restroom, and after coughing or sneezing.
Hand sanitizer stations can be placed strategically throughout the school for easy access.
Cleaning and Disinfection
Educational facilities should have a well-defined cleaning and disinfection protocol.
Regularly cleaning frequently-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, desks, chairs, and shared equipment is essential.
Consider the type of surface and how often the surface is touched.
Generally, high touch surfaces are more likely to spread germs. If the space is a high traffic area, you may choose to clean more frequently or disinfect in addition to cleaning. [2]
Restrooms
Restrooms in schools can be a breeding ground for germs if not properly maintained.
Regular cleaning and disinfection, stocked supplies like soap and paper towels, functional plumbing, and proper ventilation are necessary to ensure a hygienic restroom environment.
A poorly maintained school washroom can threaten the health of students and staff—even those who don’t even use the facilities.
Without proper cleaning, washrooms can become breeding grounds for germs that can spread disease throughout the school population. [3]
Food Safety
Ensuring food safety is crucial if schools provide meals or have cafeterias.
The kitchen and food preparation areas should meet health and safety standards.
Proper food handling, storage, and preparation practices should be followed to prevent foodborne illnesses.
Waste Management
Proper waste management is essential to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of diseases.
The provision of safe water, sanitation and waste management and hygienic conditions is essential for preventing and for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including of coronavirus disease 2019.
Ensuring evidenced-based and consistently applied WASH and waste management practices in communities, homes, schools, marketplaces, and healthcare facilities will help prevent human-to-human transmission of pathogens including SARS-CoV-2. [4]
Adequate waste bins should be available throughout the school, with regular disposal and appropriate segregation of different types of waste (e.g., recyclables, organic waste, general waste).
Ventilation
Good indoor air quality is essential for students' and staff's health and well-being.
Proper ventilation systems and regular maintenance of HVAC systems help remove airborne pollutants, reduce the risk of respiratory infections, and improve the learning environment.
In recent years, comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.
Good IAQ is an important component of a healthy indoor environment, and can help schools reach their primary goal of educating children.
Failure to prevent or respond promptly to IAQ problems can [...] increase long- and short-term health problems for students and staff [...] [5]
Health Policies and Education
Educational facilities should have clear health policies in place, including protocols for illness reporting, student/staff exclusion due to contagious diseases, and vaccination requirements.
Regular health education programs for students, teachers, and parents can promote awareness of proper hygiene practices and reinforce their importance.
Personal Hygiene Supplies
Schools should ensure the availability of essential personal hygiene supplies, such as hand soap, paper towels, tissues, and hand sanitizers.
Additionally, providing access to menstrual hygiene products in restrooms is essential for the well-being of students.
Water Quality
Regular maintenance and monitoring of water sources, including drinking water fountains and taps, should be conducted to ensure the water is safe for consumption.
Testing for contaminants and addressing any issues promptly is crucial to prevent waterborne illnesses.
Pest Control
Schools should have effective pest control measures to prevent infestations that could compromise hygiene and health.
Regular inspections and proper waste management can help mitigate pest-related concerns.
Improperly managed pest problems and improper pesticide use can lead to health risks for children, given the significant time they spend in and around schools.
Many schools have environmental conditions conducive to pest infestations.
Reducing unnecessary exposures to pests and pesticides improves health and attendance, and leads to greater academic achievement.
Healthier school environments enable children to learn and produce more in the classroom, which ultimately leads to a more productive, higher quality life. [6]
References & Resources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). When & How to Wash Your Hands. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html
- CDC. (2022, November 2). Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/cleaning/facility.html
- Kennedy, M. (2012, March 1). StackPath. Www.asumag.com. https://www.asumag.com/construction/washrooms-locker-rooms/article/20850804/clean-and-safe-washroom-school-maintenance
- World Health Organization. (2020, July 29). Water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. www.who.int. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-IPC-WASH-2020.4
- US EPA, O. (2014, October 2). Reference Guide for Indoor Air Quality in Schools. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/reference-guide-indoor-air-quality-schools
- Pest Control in the School Environment: Implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) (2017). https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-08/documents/pest_control_management_in_school_environments_735-f-17-004.pdf
Takeaway
Regular cleaning is a proactive measure to mitigate hygiene concerns in educational facilities.
It not only safeguards the health of students, teachers, and staff, but also fosters a positive and conducive environment for learning and growth.
Prioritizing hygiene through regular cleaning practices is an investment in the well-being of the entire school community.
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