Back-to-school supply shopping has come and gone, but ask any teacher - the need for supplies doesn’t stop when school starts. At the top of the list are tools to battle the daily germ invasion: boxes of tissues, bottles of hand sanitizer, and cans of disinfecting wipes. These school year essentials help prevent the spread of flu viruses responsible for over 38 million lost school days, and 100 million missed work days. This fall, local health non-profit Immunize Nevada is helping schools stay healthy by fighting the flu across our community.
Getting vaccinated is just one important part of preventing the spread of flu viruses. Frequent handwashing, coughing in elbows, sneezing in tissues, and not sharing pencils are all healthy habits students should be learning – alongside addition and subtraction tables. Unfortunately, reduced school budgets force many teachers to use personal funds to buy needed supplies to keep their classrooms germ-free. That’s why we’ve added a Healthy Classrooms Supplies Drive to our annual school-located flu clinic program. Keeping students in their desks healthy and learning, rather than sick in bed at home, directly impacts their educational outcomes and benefits our whole community.
But we can’t do this alone! Helping keep the flu out of school is a team effort between teachers, parents, students, and the community. It’s up to all of us to ensure students have the best and healthiest learning environments possible. Join us by donating one or all of these items today:
Liquid hand soap: Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry. Regular handwashing is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of germs to others. Handwashing is a win for everyone (except the germs!)
Hand sanitizer/Hand wipes: Not all classrooms have sinks, so sanitizer is an effective substitute anytime soap and water are unavailable.
Disinfecting wipes: Studies have found cold, and flu bacteria can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours. Wipes can kill 99.9 percent of these germs.
Tissues: Tissues are on all back-to-school supply lists, but the need far outweighs the amount usually received.
Now through the end of September, you can bring items to the Immunize Nevada office at 427 Ridge St, Reno or 1050 E. Flamingo #E225, Las Vegas; order online off our Amazon Wish List http://a.co/8lwtJPU; Text GERMFREENV to 44321 to make a monetary donation; or collect items at your business. We’ll bring you an empty collection box and pick it up when full.
To find out about how you, your business, or organization can get involved with Immunize Nevada’s mission to prevent disease and promote health, visit immunizenevada.org, follow us on social media or contact us at .
As executive director of Immunize Nevada, Heidi Parker, MA leads and engages a diverse coalition of staff, volunteers, member organizations and funders so they are passionate about vaccines and access to preventive health care across Nevada’s rural, urban and frontier communities. Bringing over two decades of experience in nonprofit program management, fundraising and marketing, she has dedicated her career to being able to affect her community in a positive way, whether working with Head Start families, victims of violence, college students or Nevadans needing immunizations.
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