This time of year always leads to various health outbreaks at schools. Most parents expect the typical colds, cough, runny nose, and fever. They dread but also are not surprised a child that comes home with flu or strep throat. Even lice are not a major thing that catches parents very off guard.
However, every now and then a disease or sickness breaks out that has parents and school workers terrified. One of those diseases that scares me is staph infection.
I am not a doctor or nurse and I actually do not know much about it except for I hear it can be bad and very contagious. Each year a couple of students are usually sent home with staph infection.
Schools in Massachusetts are experiencing the same scare. Several students in Wrentham, Massachusetts have been diagnosed with staph infection. However, this staph infection was worse than the typical case. The staph infection that these students experienced was drug resistant.
Once the schools were aware of the infection, they took action. The school was sanitized by a special cleaning crew. Other schools have been cleaned with bleach and water.
Although several students (about six) at different schools have been diagnosed with the sin infection, the superintendent is saying that it likely not to spread anymore.
Reminding your children to always wash their hands at school is a good idea. It is also a good idea to place some hand sanitizer in your child’s backpack so he/she can use it if needed.
If you have a baby or small child at home, you may want your school age child to change clothes before coming in contact with the infant.
Remember sickness, disease, and germs can be picked up anywhere and especially in public locations. The key is teaching your child how to use proper hand washing and other tasks that help your children stay as germ free as possible.