Keeping children and the adults who care for them healthy is a goal of educators, families, public health officials, and health professionals. Children rely on adult caregivers to incorporate and teach them routines and behaviors to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases including influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 in schools and at home. Many preventive strategies are simple, safe, and effective, allowing you to guard against a variety of potentially serious illnesses.

On this page:

Prevention Strategies

Use the following strategies within your school to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases:

  • Encourage all children and their families to get sufficient sleep, eat nutritious meals, practice good oral hygiene, and get enough physical activity to keep their bodies healthy.
  • Utilize infection prevention and control methods.
    • Encourage frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of germs and viruses.
    • Clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces.
    • Teach children to cough and sneeze in their elbows or in to a tissue.
    • Make sure rooms are well-ventilated.
    • Handle food safely.
    • Create a school environment where mask wearing is normal and welcome. Consider making masks available to students and school professionals who wish to wear one.
  • Be an advocate and remind parents about getting their children vaccinated and themselves.
  • Recommend vaccinations to all staff.
    • Improve access to vaccinations for staff with on-site immunizations or scheduled time off.
    • Make annual vaccinations such as those for influenza and COVID-19 part of the school staff’s routine.
  • Excuse a child from class if the child has a fever, vomiting, or other symptoms like cough, sore throat, sneezing, or runny nose that prevent them from participating in activities and require extra care.
  • Have an emergency plan in place for seasonal viruses and pandemics to help prepare your school community and minimize disruptions to learning.
    • Prepare ahead to protect your school in an emergency and ensure alternative plans are in place in case of supply shortages, staff shortages, and possible school closures.
    • Refer to the pandemic and emergency preparedness resources below.

Helpful Resources

AAP Resources

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website features policies, useful resources and practical tools to help pediatricians, health professionals, and those who care for children work together to help keep kids health. These resources include practical strategies to help manage and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

CDC Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website offers a wealth of information and guidance to help school staff, school health professionals, and those who care for kids work to prevent and manage the spread of infectious diseases in school settings.

Additional Resources

Resources for Families

The following resources for families on Healthy Children.org provide information and tools for parents and caregiver to use when navigating how to help keep children healthy and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

HealthyChildren.org

Last Updated

09/25/2023

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics