Germ Hot Spots in Schools
Bacteria live everywhere — in the air, in water and soil, on food, on animals and on nearly every surface you can imagine — including cafeteria trays. These trays can be home to all kinds of germs, often because these trays only get a quick wipe-down rather than a full wash. One way to help your child avoid exposure to germs on cafeteria trays is to consider having him brown bag it. That may not always be possible, though. If that’s the case, tell your child not to eat food that drops on the tray. The good news is that some schools have begun using disposable trays to minimize the risk of infection. The issue is balance. Most germs are harmless because the immune system knows exactly how to handle them. However, a good hand-wash and knowing what to avoid can’t hurt!
Image courtesy of Zurijeta | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Robert Byron | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Andreykuzmin | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Infokus408 | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Saap585 | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Constantin Opris | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Pavla Zakova | Dreamstime.com Image courtesy of Jorge Salcedo | Dreamstime.com The Public Health and Safety Organization, "Germiest Places at Schools" Mayo Clinic, "Germs: Understand and protect against bacteria, viruses and infection" National Education Association, "Eeek! There’s a germ on my desk!" KidsHealth, "Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands?" UMass, "Did You Know? How to Avoid Restroom Germs" California State Science Fair, "Computer Keyboard Hygiene: What Lurks Between the Keys?"