Going Back to School Survival for Teachers, and Teachers Assistants

Just recently I attended a workshop for teachers, it was entitled, Blood Born Pathogens. Now this workshop is necessary for all those who are in public service, because you need to know how to protect your self from "contaminants" you will come in contact with in the public service occupational fields. Even though I have taken this in previous years, there is always important updated information, that will help you better protect your self and your own family from the different "contaminants" out there.

When I use the word "contaminants", I am referring to things that can enter into your body, or anything that can infect you. Things like blood, feces, spit, vomit or good examples of that. It is necessary to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, cuts or sores, wounds, or any open place on your body from contracting a germ or other infectious substance. There is usually gloves which will protect your hands and fingers, there are also masks if needed for any splatters of spit, or blood. These protectants are usually on hand at schools, and you can get access to them.

One important thing I heard in this class was that hand sanitizers will not protect you as well as soap and water. I did not know this....I just assumed it was as good as soap and water. If you were to put hand sanitizer on, and then before it dries, you touch something, you are as if you had never used it. Yes, it is not going to protect you, so make sure it dries completely before touching anything.

Another thing I learned was that the sides of a persons hand never gets washed thoroughly enough to get rid of germs. Between the thumb and first finger is not washed good enough either, so when hand washing pay close attention to these areas, making sure to take at least 20 seconds to wash. Proper hand washing is simple, first turn on the water, then apply the soap, without any water at first, then you will rinse, turn off water with paper towel, and open door leading out of restroom with a paper towel as well. Remember take 20 seconds, at least to wash.

If you have children that are small, that you must deal with daily, they probably will touch your clothes, hands, or other personal things, it is important to change clothes first thing when you get home, and wash hands first thing as well. This is sometimes forgotten, but it can save you from colds and viruses, and sometimes things like germs.

Never put anything near your mouth, that has not been sanitized or cleaned first, things like forks, cups, etc. This is common practice I believe, but better safe than sorry. Remember anything that you bring to school with you, needs to be put away so that no one can touch it and spread their germs. I always put my stuff in a cabinet, high up on a shelf, so that no one can get to it. If you are in a classroom, take wipes and clean desks, backs of chairs, pencils cases, anything plastic, and remember to wash hands immediately after cleaning. This will help clean things and make your chances of getting into contact with the latest sniffles case, or spit from a sick child, almost untouchable.

Never share pencils, or pens, have a designated pen stash or pencil stash just for the kids to use if need be. Keep your pens and pencils up so no one will use them. This is not mean, just self protection. I always watch for sharing going on amongst children, especially if one child has a cold, or has a known virus or what not. This will keep germs at a minimum, now you cannot control all germs but this a good preventative measure.

I certainly do not have all the answers but I hope that you and your family will be safer and more germ protected. No one wants to bring home a virus or germs to their loved ones. We all need to be informed about germs, about "contaminants", knowledge is power.