Promoting a healthy environment during therapy

Germs. Germs are everywhere! Sure, everyone knows that WE MUST WASH OUR HANDS AFTER WE USE THE BATHROOM, but what other measures should we take to prevent further spread of germs? What can we do as parents to possibly prevent a disease? As therapists, what must we do to support a clean and healthy learning environment? If you haven't thought of any ideas please read further:

Why it's important to wash our hands

Hand washing is an easy task and it's one of the most important things we can do to prevent the spread of germs. It's crucial to instill this good habit in our children at an early age. The simple act of washing our hands can prevent many diseases as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows us.

• Always remember to wash your and your child's hands with soap and water after the bathroom visit
• If soap and water are not available  use hand sanitizer as another option
• If your child is sick and sneezing remind them to wash their hands or keep sanitizer near!
• Absolutely wash your hands if you come in contact with any bodily fluids of your own or others.

Why we turn away clients who are sick

As healthcare providers, we often come into direct contact with clients who are sick. It's important for our health and theirs to stay at home for recovery. Sick clients who have not been seen by a doctor and have been absent from school may come walking through your therapy door. What to do? The best option you have is to ask about the client's current health status and send them back home.

Parents, if your child was sent home or absent from school due to vomiting and fever etc please keep them home. Everyone gets sick sometimes, even therapists! Together, we can work to promote a healthy environment for all!

If you or someone you know needs the services of a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist, please be sure to discuss your concerns with a physician, a speech-language pathologist, or another qualified provider. You can also find a provider through the ASHA ProFind service or visit us at www.bilingualspeech.org for more information. NOTE: This article is intended only as a general source of information, i.e, it is not intended to replace information given to you by a qualified health professional that is familiar with your particular circumstances. Lastly, if you have an urgent medical need, please seek immediate medical attention.