Schools and institutions can prevent panic in the community during outbreaks by developing a PROACTIVE strategy to control and contain infectious disease risks. The first priority is to promote hygiene best practices and educate students, patients, inmates and staff on how they can help prevent outbreaks. Secondly, a thorough cleaning program executed by trained cleaning crews should mitigate potential outbreaks every day. Finally, a proper disinfection strategy aimed at high-risk areas should ensure that schools and institutions can stay healthy and operational, even during periods of extra infectious disease concerns.
Many institutions across the country are adopting comprehensive cleaning programs that address the various demands of cleaning in an institutional environment. These control programs include protocols that help prevent the spread of infectious diseases as well as protocols that help reduce asthma triggers and improve indoor environmental quality. These same procedures can be implemented in colleges, universities and correctional facilities. However, you may not be cleaning or disinfecting properly if you have not yet instituted a "Rotational Disinfection" protocol. Please CLICK HERE to learn more about "Rotational Disinfection".
According to the CDC, it is important that school administrators and institutional supervisors understand the difference between "cleaning", "sanitizing" and "disinfecting". "Cleaning" only removes dirt and impurities from surfaces and objects. "Sanitizing" lowers the numbers of germs on surfaces or objects to a "safe" level. However, only "disinfecting" kills germs on surfaces and objects. In the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tips for cleaning and disinfecting schools correctly, they recommend washing surfaces with a general cleaner to remove germs, then rinse with water, and follow with an EPA-Registered Disinfectant to kill germs.
To lower the risk of spreading infection from Ebola Virus, Norovirus, Enterovirus, MRSA, and Influenza it is recommended to use both sanitizing and disinfecting procedures. Both Norovirus and Enterovirus have demonstrated resistance to alcohol-based products like certain disinfectants and hand sanitizers. Norovirus can also survive temperatures as high as 140 degrees. Chlorine bleach based disinfectants can be dangerous for students, employees, patients or inmates with asthma. Bleach also also requires the use of Personal Protective Devices including safety goggles, gloves and breathing protection.
The CDC recommends disinfectants from the EPA's Chemical Registry like Vital Oxide from VitalProductsCo for Enterovirus, Rotavirus, Norovirus and Ebola. VITAL OXIDE is MILD, classified as a Category IV disinfectant, the mildest classification applied to EPA registered disinfectants. It is also HIGHLY effective and kills 99.999% of dangerous microbial organisms. UNLIKE BLEACH, it is NON-TOXIC, does NOT cause skin irritation, does NOT cause any respiratory irritation and when diluted 10:1, is even safe for food contact in institutional food service areas! Check the Material Safety Data Sheet by clicking HERE.