The importance of cleanliness in schools

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is all about safety in the workplace. He believes that it should be a priority for everyone everywhere. He even shares his extensive knowledge via his blog series to help raise awareness of safety and security.

Capt. Sanders notes that one of the most overlooked issues regarding safety – cleanliness in schools. Schools are places where many young people are packed in rooms almost every day. Because of this, it’s easy for viruses to go around, making schools a potent breeding ground for illnesses.

One way to prevent, or at least lower the chances of the spread of disease in schools is to focus on making these establishments as clean as possible. Capt. Sanders explains that this is, of course, easier said than done. Unlike offices wherein employees are mostly adults who know how to follow the rules of sanitation, schools, especially elementary schools, are filled with children who are not too focused on keeping themselves clean.

Children love to play, as they should. Because of this, it’s the school’s responsibility to make sure that its facilities, areas where children mostly play are kept clean. When these places are sanitized, the risk of infection from bacteria and viruses is lowered.

Capt. Martin Lloyd Sanders understands that schools have budget concerns and may not be able to comply with strict sanitation, but he also believes that cleanliness should be a priority. After all, there may be no more important thing in the world than the health and safety of children.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is a multi-awarded scientist and a US Army veteran. He is an expert in biological safety, field medical operations, biosecurity, occupational safety and health, infectious disease epidemiology, environmental health services, and occupational health and wellness programs. Visit this page for more articles like this.

Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.

What to do during an active shooting

The U.S. is the country with the highest rate of public shooting in the world. Public shooting has been reported in the news too often. According to Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, an expert in public health, citizens should know how to react to such acts of violence. Here is what you should do if you are caught in an active shooting scenario.

There are a lot of things you can do, but what you can do is limited to your location and your distance from the shooter. If you are at a safe enough distance, you should call 911 and alert local law enforcement of the crime being committed. If you are at an advantageous position where you can see the shooter but the shooter can’t see you, stay on the line and keep giving law enforcement information on the shooter’s location and direction.

If you think you do not have time to call law enforcement due to your situation, evacuate immediately. If you know your surroundings, think of an escape route with plenty of cover and not wide open spaces. Leave your belongings if they will hinder your escape. And if you see wounded people in the location, do not attempt to move them unless you are trained to do so.

In the instance where evacuation is not an option, the best thing to do is to find a hiding place, one that is away from the shooter’s view. According to Martin Lloyd Sanders, the best place to hide is a location where the door can be locked, items can be used to barricade the entrance, and you also have other means of escaping like a window.

Captain Martin Lloyd Sanders, Ph.D., obtained his degree in zoology at the University of California and his doctorate from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. To know more about Capt. Sanders, visit his profile here .

Disclaimer:  This site was prepared by Martin L. Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government.