Hand Sanitizers Found to Reduce Illness-Related Absenteeism in Schools

      AKRON, OH -- A study published in the October issue of The American Journal of Infection Control finds children using an alcohol gel hand sanitizer in the classroom miss up to 20 percent fewer school days due to illness. The study suggests that optimum health benefits come from a combination of infection control tools, including administrative support, education and training, handwashing, and hand sanitizing with alcohol-based gels. These findings come as this year''s flu season approaches, eventually infecting our nation''s classrooms.

      School districts in Athens, Tenn.; Wilmington, Del.; Irvine, Calif.; Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; and Hudson, Ohio, participated in the 10-month study. The study involved 6,080 students across 18 public elementary schools (grades kindergarten through sixth). Within each school district, classrooms containing PURELL(R) Instant Hand Sanitizer were paired with control classrooms. Schools were paired based on similarities such as student population and geographic location. Missed days due to illness were recorded by school personnel.

      Students in the study were instructed by their teachers and administrators to wash their hands with soap and water in the restroom as they normally do. In the test classrooms students were also instructed to use the alcohol gel hand sanitizer at certain times during the day. Specific times included before and after lunch, after recess, after using the restroom, and before going home. Dispensers were installed next to every classroom door for easy access when entering and leaving the room.

      "This study demonstrates the importance of healthy hand hygiene in a school setting. Teaching children the importance of keeping their hands clean, whether it''s with a hand sanitizer or soap and water, can help reduce the spread of infection and the resulting absenteeism. The results are very promising for school nurses, administrators, teachers, students, and parents across the country," said Judy Robinson, Ph.D., R.N. and Executive Director of the National Association of School Nurses.

      According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), handwashing is the most effective method for preventing the spread of infection. Unfortunately, handwashing may be difficult to perform in some classroom situations because of simple logistics, time constraints and lack of facilities. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers provide an effective alternative that is convenient and easy to use when introduced as a supplement to handwashing. According to the most recent guidelines published by the Association of Professionals in Infection Control, "Alcohols applied to the skin are among the safest known antiseptics."

      The spread of infectious disease accounts for more than 164 million lost school days annually among kindergarten through 12th grade students in public schools, according to figures provided by the CDC. On the average, students are absent from school four and a half days a year due to illness. The school-aged child averages four colds per year, and each cold can last five to 14 days.

      The Carnegie Foundation for Education states absenteeism due to illness is a major problem in both public and private educational institutions, especially at the elementary school level. It contributes significantly to the loss of public funding, school administrative expenses, healthcare costs, and parental leave. More fundamentally, it disrupts students'' learning process and development.