How Hand Hygiene Affects Attendance In Schools For Staff And Students

Hand hygiene education in schools can help improve attendance. (Photo courtesy of SC Johnson Professional)

Schools are hotspots for germs. The close contact and the frequent sharing of supplies among students and staff create an ideal environment for germs to spread. During cold and flu season, it’s especially important to ensure that everyone conducts proper hand hygiene, according to SC Johnson Professional. By encouraging good handwashing habits, schools can reduce the spread of germs, creating a healthier learning environment while helping improve attendance rates for students and teachers.

Importance Of Hand Hygiene

Research shows that regular handwashing can help prevent around 20% of respiratory infections such as colds. Through educating and enforcing hand washing protocols, schools can help reduce the transmission of germs. This simple, yet vital practice is a foundational step in building a safer and more productive educational setting.

Key Times To Wash Hands

Handwashing isn’t just about frequency; it’s about timing, too. Students and staff should wash their hands:

• Before and after snacks and lunch.
• After using the restroom.
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing their nose.
• When their hands look dirty.
• After playing outside.

If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is an effective alternative. For example, having hand sanitizer accessible near playgrounds or in classrooms helps ensure quick and easy hand hygiene after recess or shared activities.

Negative Impacts Of Missing School

Around 75% of all school absences are related to illness, and this has a significant impact on education. When a child is sick and misses school, they may fall behind on lessons and assignments, making it difficult to stay on track academically. Furthermore, teacher absences due to illness can disrupt classroom learning. Substitute teachers may not always be familiar with ongoing lesson plans, which can hinder a student’s academic progress. High absenteeism from students and teachers can also put a strain on administrators as they work to manage the disruptions caused by such absences.

Hand Hygiene Education

Hand hygiene education in schools can help improve attendance. In fact, handwashing interventions can help reduce illness-related absences by as much as 26%. For younger students, incorporating lesson plans that teach the importance of hand hygiene and demonstrate proper techniques, such as scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds, can make learning both engaging and effective. As for older students and staff, placing informative posters near sinks and sanitizing stations can serve as helpful hand hygiene reminders. Tailoring these approaches to different age groups helps ensure everyone understands the importance of good hygiene habits.

Build Healthier Schools Through Hand Hygiene

Promoting proper hand hygiene in schools is essential to help reduce illness-related absences. Simple steps, like teaching effective handwashing techniques and reinforcing them with visual reminders, can help make a lasting impact on school attendance. For more information on SC Johnson Professional’s hand hygiene products for education, click here.