The NEA HIN Flu Fighting Challenge – Tip#4

NEA HIN’s Flu Fighting Challenge is a month-long campaign to encourage educators to share fast facts with students, parents, and colleagues, about how to stay healthy.  Check every Tuesday during the month of October for updates: Tip #1:Flu germs can actually travel from 6 to 12 feet, moving at a rate of up to 100 mph from sneezing or coughing. Tip #2: Washing your hands will cut your risk of getting a respiratory illness by 21%. Tip #3: Have a flu-like illness? The CDC recommends staying home for at least 24-hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Did you know that germs and viruses can only live on surfaces for 2-8 hours?

Cleaning and disinfecting is part of a broad approach to help prevent the spread of infectious disease including the flu. Proper cleaning and disinfecting can remove or kill germs on surfaces and help slow the spread of the flu or other diseases by reducing the chances of people ever coming in contact with germs.

It’s important to understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting.

• Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects lowering their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Cleaning works by using soap or detergent and water (good old fashion elbow grease) to physically remove germs from surfaces.
• Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects, thus lowering the risk of spreading infection. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects.

In this week’s tip for NEA HIN’s Flu Fighting Challenge, we will highlight what you need to know about cleaning and disinfecting to help prevent the spread of flu.

Here’s this week’s Flu Fighting Tips:

• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often such as desks, doorknobs, computer keyboards, phones, and hands-on learning items.
• Flu viruses are fragile so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are enough to remove or kill the flu virus. Special processes like wiping down walls and fumigating is not recommended as they can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin; aggravate asthma; and cause other serious side effects.
• Always read and follow the directions on product labels when using cleaners and disinfectants.  Be sure that you are wearing the recommended personal protective equipment (usually gloves and eye protection) and pay close attention to hazard warnings. Finally, be sure you are using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
• RESOURCE: 
  • How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu (CDC)
  • Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Targeted Disinfecting School Wide Fact Sheet (NEA HIN)

NEA HIN’s Flu Fighting Challenge is a month-long campaign to encourage educators to share fast facts with students, parents, and colleagues, about how to stay healthy.  Check every Tuesday during the month of October for updates.  Check here for more flu-fighting information.