As you are aware infections or diseases can have a serious impact on student’s health and their well-being. They can impact the academic performance of the children by causing them to take medical leave to recuperate and even hospitalization. There can be even more serious outcomes to infections or diseases if preventive steps or action is not taken in proper time.
Children come in close contact with each other as they are expected to in the school environment. This however also leads to schools also being a breeding ground for infections as children often tend to share toys, food and drinks. This makes it easy for germs to spread.
As the saying goes “Prevention is better than cure” The best way to prevent the spread of infectious diseases is to take preventive measures from them entering the school in the first place. These measures are not limited to the below:
Keeping the school clean and disinfected: Schools should have a dedicated housekeeping team, with cleaning schedules charted out and recorded to ensure that cleaning and sanitization are carried out in a planned manner. Special attention should be given to clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched such as doorknobs, light switches, toys, play equipment and desks. Cleanliness of areas like cafeterias, the sick bay, playground, the garbage disposal process etc. should also be given due attention to ensure cleanliness of the campus.

Vaccinations: Students and staff should be encouraged to vaccinate from infectious diseases and schools should work with parents to ensure that all students are kept up to date on their vaccinations.

Personal Hygiene: Schools should work with parents and as a joint front should promote good hygiene practices both at home as well as in school. This includes teaching students to wash their hands frequently, cover their coughs and sneezes and avoid sharing personal items. As safety consultants, Campus Fortify also recommends education on good hygiene practices through posters at relevant places in the school.

During the Covid19 pandemic, it became amply clear preparedness can help in prevention as well as saving lives. Management should create an SOP for to tackle infections and diseases in the school ecosystem which is periodically updated with inputs from local health authorities. The SOP should outline the steps to be taken in case of an infectious disease outbreak, including steps to be taken to identify and isolate infected students, the communication plan to disperse information to parents and the community, how to clean and disinfect the school.

Creating the SOP is the first step to prepare for an infectious disease outbreak. Students and staff should be provided with information on infectious disease, including how to prevent it from spreading and how to recognize the symptoms. Training of all staff and students is critical for them to know what to do in case of an outbreak, how to identify and to be able to identify . Stockpiling of essentials like gloves, masks & disinfectant is also advisable in the eventuality of an outbreak.
At Campus Fortify Pvt. Ltd, we believe that the safety and well-being of students is paramount. In the wake of recent global health crises, it has become increasingly important to address the prevention and management of infectious diseases and epidemics in schools.
Our primary goal is to reduce risks and hazards to “As Low As Reasonably Possible”. We achieve this through systematic and extensive audits, which help us identify among other threats, potential health threats and develop strategies to mitigate them.
We have developed a comprehensive Infectious Diseases Manual. This manual outlines various protocols to be followed in case of an outbreak or an emergency. It includes guidelines on maintaining hygiene within school premises, steps to be taken if a student or staff member falls ill, and procedures for quarantine and contact tracing.

We understand the importance of creating safe and healthy learning environments. Our safety audits and training programs are designed to empower schools with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent and manage infectious diseases and epidemics effectively.
Together, we can ensure that our schools in India remain resilient in the face of health challenges, providing a secure and enriching education for our children. If you would like to schedule a safety audit for your school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can build a safer future for our students.