Some countries already allowed children to go to schools amid the pandemic. Leaders have approved children living in low-risk areas to study face-to-face. Some families could not afford to let their children due to the challenge the children will have to take.
Some schools initiated timely threat assessments to ensure safety and security. The school administration of schools assures parents that children will be safe. There are classroom precautions rolled out to schools as part of their preparation. The threat assessment team will be the one to decide if the school is meeting the requirements.
Schools have thoroughly done their part in ensuring the safety of their students. But what are the things that a student can do to protect themselves? What can they share to keep a safe and healthy environment? How can parents prepare their children? Here are some pieces of advice for students who are going back to school:
Sign up for vaccination before going back to school and complete the second dose.
There are clinical trials already performed to vaccinate children. Some students who are ages 18 and above have already taken their first dose. Experts suggest vaccinating for Covid-19 first once a vaccine becomes available for children. The vaccine is the only hope that the world has today. Those who could take the vaccine should take it. It is the only way where people could avoid severe conditions and even loss of life.
Vaccination programs are available worldwide. Some countries ensure the safety of vaccinations. They encourage everybody to take the vaccine. Experts also provide relevant information about doses and proven them to be effective.
The importance of vaccines is essential. It has saved many lives from early events or previous pandemics. Thus, getting vaccinated is a sure way to avoid hospitalization.
It is also essential for students who have taken the first dose of the vaccine to complete the second dose. The 2nd dose of the shots serves as the booster to keep the body protected from the virus. It is advised to take the 2nd dose at the scheduled time.
Practice safe distancing.
A safe distance to avoid a potential infection is 1 meter. It would even be better if some people could get as far as 3 meters. Safe distancing is one way not to have physical contact with those who might be a carrier of infection. It is better to keep safe distances inside buildings or areas that could attract many people.
Students should also be aware that they will need to avoid crowded places. Too many people around could be a risk as the pandemic is still around. It is better to avoid crowded areas such as pantries and elevators.
Students might also want to check the washrooms first if there are too crowded inside. School washrooms could have small spaces. They could potentially be a source of infection. Parents should remind their children to use the washroom one at a time and wait for their turn.
Wear face masks inside buildings.
This policy depends on the school if they allow students to take off masks. But medical experts suggest keeping their masks on inside establishments or buildings. It is a precautionary measure to avoid droplets that might cause sickness.
Medical suppliers made face masks to protect those who wear them and to whom they are talking. It prevents someone that carries a Covid-19 virus from infecting their companion.
A surgical face mask could protect the person wearing up to 67%. One of the medical experts in the U.S. suggests wearing a double surgical mask for double protection.
Make sure that students are washing their hands all the time.
Washing hands all the time can prevent a virus from spreading to others. Some surfaces might be contaminated and could spread the virus through touching. But these circumstances if everybody washes their hands.
A study shows that the corona virus survives on surfaces in a few days. The virus may stay active depending on the weather condition. Thus, washing the hands could prevent anyone from being infected.
Soaps have particular molecules that destroy the spike proteins surrounding the corona virus. Hence, the virus could not last 30 seconds, exposing to soap.
Bring your disinfectants.
Students will also be safer if they bring their disinfectants. These things, such as alcohol and sanitizers, could help students sanitize their hands. It is a clever alternative to soap to wash hands or disinfect.
Disinfectants commonly contain alcohol that kills any known virus. It is also something that students can use if water and soap are not available. Some parents even let their children bring bleach with water in a spray bottle. These types of disinfectants also kill viruses on surfaces.
Protecting children from the virus is a challenging task. Everybody knows that youngsters are full of energy and excitement. They tend to get so excited that they might forget the risks outdoors. But proper discipline and awareness of their surroundings is the key to their safety. Always remind children to stay cautious and practice good hygiene.