Spring may be here, but the cold and flu season continues as health officials are reminding students and staff that the most powerful tool against illness is something simple. Hand washing is the number one thing that can prevent the spread of germs in school.
The most common sicknesses seen in hallways and nurses’ offices are Norovirus and the common cold. At LHS, the flu and stomach bugs are making their way through the population. These illnesses spread rapidly when clean hands aren’t a priority.
Nurse Katrina Couture said students don’t wash their hands as often as they should. She advised that students wash their hands every time they use the bathroom, before eating, and after touching anything in a high traffic area such as railings or door handles. Nurse Katrina said it is most important to wash when students’ hands are “visibly soiled” or when they have body fluid on them, like snot.
Most people make the mistake of washing their hands too quickly.
Nurse Katrina provided a step-by-step routine to get hands as clean as possible. First, wet your hands with clean, running water. Second, lather; apply soap and rub your palms together, covering the backs of hands, between fingers and under nails. Third, scrub; scrub for at least 20 seconds or “hum ‘Happy Birthday’ twice.” Next, rinse your hands under clean, running water. Lastly, dry hands using a clean towel or air dryer.
Nurse Katrina noted there has been an improvement in hygiene habits since hand sanitizer became available in most classrooms. She said, “if you don’t use it, it doesn’t do much good.”
Soap and water is still the best defense for the norovirus.
When asked about washing hands improperly, Nurse Katrina jokes, “Zombie apocalypse!!! No, just kidding, people can get very sick and if enough people spread enough germs we could have an outbreak.”
So, how does handwashing prevent the spread of germs in school? Nurse Katrina said, “Clean hands mean you aren’t spreading germs to your neighbor.”
A new variant of COVID has been reported by the CDC. Some students have tested positive. Right now, there are no specific protocols in place for Leominster High School to deal with this virus. Nurse Katrina explained the school cannot do anything until the variant makes enough people sick that it starts becoming a public health problem.
Until then, wash your hands to keep your community a lot safer.
