Playground
Left to the outdoor elements and the little monkeys (children) who climb the bars, the playground is an environment in which to remain diligent. From bodily fluids to any number of germs and bugs, playground equipment are grossly-contaminated surfaces.
Furthermore, it is not unusual for playground equipment to be cleaned infrequently, if at all, especially if it is located on an outside play area. Indoor play equipment may more frequently be cleaned, but not all establishments with such equipment have regular cleaning and disinfecting schedules for these areas.
It is important to take some simple steps in ensuring your child’s “health safety” as well as their physical safety.
Make sure that your children wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand gel after they are finished playing
Teach your children about the importance of not rubbing their eyes or nose while playing in these communal, public areas, so that the germs are not transferred from their hands to their mucous membranes
For more susceptible children, you may want to bath your child upon returning home from the playground or simply change their clothing
Treat any cuts or scrapes as soon as possible by washing them thoroughly with soap and water
Cover any open wounds with a band-aid or bandage before beginning play at a public place
Remember, good hand hygiene and a little oversight will ensure a good time is had by all!
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Advice from a Saint LouisUniversity germ expert is music to the ears of those who dread the annual tradition of spring cleaning. Don’t go overboard, cautions Donna Duberg, assistant professor of clinical laboratory science at Saint LouisUniversity’s Doisy College of Health Sciences. “Ask yourself the question: How contaminated is my house?” Duberg says. “If it is just everyday dirt, then ...
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Playground
