| Preschoolers are about as cute as they come. But | | | | coughing are going to send viruses airborne. It's a fact |
| keeping a preschool a clean and healthy place means | | | | of life. Many times these germs fall on various |
| taking action on many different levels. Here are a few | | | | surfaces and can thrive outside the body for quite a |
| tips that will help keep your preschoolers bright eyed | | | | few hours. Other times they attach to airborne |
| and bushy tail because their preschool environment is | | | | particles already in the air such as dust, mildew and |
| a healthy place to be. | | | | mold spores, pollen and even pet dander (brought in on |
| Sanitize Common Surfaces Daily-There are sanitizing | | | | clothes of children who own pets) and are inhaled or |
| wipes that make this job easier than it sounds. Use | | | | ingested by an unsuspecting victim. By filtering the air, |
| them to wipe off changing areas, door knobs, tables | | | | not only do you remove particles that can often |
| and chairs, windows or surfaces on which children | | | | aggravate those with allergies and asthma, but you |
| might put their mouths. The wipes should contain at | | | | also remove the viruses. |
| least 60 percent alcohol, and this should be done at a | | | | Because the H1N1 virus seemingly targets the young, |
| time when children are not present. | | | | they are doubly vulnerable. Like them, their hygiene |
| Practice and Model Good Personal Hygiene-Make | | | | habits are a work in progress. So clearing the air |
| sure are tissues readily available for sneezes, coughs, | | | | consistently with a medical grade high efficiency |
| and runny noses. Practice sneezing into your arm | | | | particle arresting (HEPA) air purifier is one more way |
| rather than into hands. This will greatly reduce the | | | | you can you can be assured that your preschool |
| number of germs that can spread when joining hands | | | | environment is as healthy as it can be. |
| or using hands on common such as crayons and toys. | | | | And because many preschools are located in |
| Stress eating from their plate and cup rather than | | | | basements of churches, they are often used by other |
| sharing food or utensils. Make a routine that includes | | | | adults and children after the preschoolers are gone. |
| always washing hands before eating and after using | | | | Having an air purifier run 24 hours a day means not |
| the bathroom. It's also a good idea to have them wash | | | | only are you able to remove germs from the |
| their hands whenever they enter the room. This | | | | preschoolers when they are there, but you can |
| reduces the number of germs that will come into your | | | | drastically reduce the number of germs that would be |
| room from other places. | | | | waiting for them when they return the following day. |
| Filter the Air-This a part of germ control that is not | | | | Unfortunately, we don't live in a germ free world. But |
| addressed frequently enough. We are all human, and | | | | reducing the germ count gives our little ones much |
| much as we may try, sometimes sneezing and | | | | more of a chance at staying healthy. |