Back to School: Hygiene & Safety Tips

It’s back to school time. Before you send your kids off to school, make sure they know proper hygiene etiquette to prevent them from spreading and getting viruses. Nearly 71% of the world’s population learn the majority of their good hygiene habits from their family when growing up. Also, educate your children on common safety tips.

How to Wash Hands

1) Wet hands and apply soap

2) Rub palms together until soap is bubbly

3) Rub between your fingers and on each hand

4) Rub backs of fingers

5) Rub around each of your thumbs

6) Rub both palms with finger tips

7) Rinse your hands under clean running water

8) Dry your hands with clean dry towel

Washing Hands

Before

• Eating at lunch and break times

• Any cookery activities

After

• Using the toilet

• Coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose

• Playing outside in the playground

• Touching or handling class pets

• Whenever hands look dirty or if they have touched a dirty surface

 

Tip: Use of hand sanitizer/disinfectant has been shown to reduce illness in school children by up to 49%

Coughs and Sneezes

• Cover their nose and mouth with a tissue

• Discard tissue in a bin

• Hands should be thoroughly washed

Other Hygiene Tips

• Keep their schoolbag clean

• Wash their gym clothes weekly

• Wash clothes at a high temperature

Back to School Safety Tips

• Remember to turn off curling irons
• Drawstrings at the waist or bottom of jackets should extend no more than 3 inches to prevent catching in car and school bus doors or getting caught on playground equipment
• Window blind cords should have their loops cut and have attached separate tassels to prevent entanglement and strangulation
• Check the surfaces around playground equipment at schools and parks

Travel Tips

School Bus

• If your child’s school bus has lap/shoulder seat belts, make sure your child uses one at all times when in the bus
• Do not move around on the bus
• Check to see that no other traffic is coming before crossing
• Always remain in clear view of the bus driver

Car

 

• Wear a seat belt OR age- and size-appropriate car safety seat or booster seat
• All children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat of vehicles
• Do not allow your teen to drive while eating, drinking, or talking on a cell phone

Bike

• Always wear a bicycle helmet
• Ride on the right, in the same direction as auto traffic
• Use appropriate hand signals
• Respect traffic lights, stop signs and rules of the road
• Wear bright color clothing to increase visibility

Walking to School

• A safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection
• Consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision
• Bright colored clothing will make your child more visible to drivers