When asked where to find germs in schools, people tend to think about restrooms and locker rooms—but there are several other areas that are much more problematic and harder to control with ordinary disinfectant solutions. In these high-traffic areas, students are constantly talking and touching things and traditional cleaning practices can’t possibly keep up. Viruses and bacteria thrive on these surfaces, building up resistance to liquid sanitizers and disinfectants over time, so germs can live on surfaces for weeks, sometimes even months.
So, where are all these germs in schools lurking? Let’s take look at where germs in schools have the highest risk of infection and then what can be done to prevent their spread.
#2: School Cafeterias
Those nasty trays are just the beginning. Cafeterias are high-traffic areas with students eating and drinking off of shared surfaces, all the while talking, interacting, coughing and sneezing. Plus, food residue promotes bacteria growth.
Did you know? A study by NSF International found that cafeteria trays can have 10 times the amount of germs as toilet seats. Yuck.
#3: Gyms, Locker Rooms and Showers
High humidity combined with limited air circulation is a dream scenario for bacteria, mold and mildew. Bacteria metabolize sweat, so equipment, gym clothes, uniforms, exercise mats and more become breeding grounds for germs. Serious, potentially fatal diseases such as a staph infection or the COVID-19 virus can be spread through surfaces, shared equipment and skin-to-skin contact.
#4: Classrooms
Desktops are touched by student after student, have dirty books and backpacks placed on them, and, of course, get coughed and sneezed on a lot. Despite cleaning protocols, germs build up throughout the day. Add in poor ventilation, common touchpoints like doorknobs and pencil sharpeners, students interacting and more, and it’s no wonder that knowledge isn’t the only thing spread in classrooms.
#5: Computer Rooms
As with classrooms, there’s a lot of touching going on in a room filled with keyboards, mouses and touchscreens. A Northwestern Memorial Hospital study discovered that drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA and VRE, can survive on a keyboard for up to 24 hours.
Schools are filled with people moving about and touching things, and that interaction is part of what in-person learning is all about. To support the educational experience, schools need a purification solution that treats both the air and surfaces.
PYURE technology works 24/7 to prevent the spread of germs in schools. With continuous sanitization of both the air and surfaces, PYURE is able to cover the high-traffic spots in addition to the hard-to-reach areas—even those dreaded lunch trays. With scalable solutions, PYURE lets you treat your entire facility or target individual rooms.
Contact a knowledgeable and helpful PYURE Distributor for a quote on stopping the spread of germs in your school with PYURE Technology. ESSER funding is available.
