How to ensure your child’s safety after schools reopen

Sending your kids back to school isn’t the same anymore. Although the central government hasn’t released any notices referring to when the schools will reopen across the country, various states have announced the commencement of school for certain classes. With the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, most parents are anxious about sending their children to school as there is still a risk of getting affected by the virus.

But let us face the truth – life can’t stop because of this situation. Sooner or later, schools will be reopened for all and children will have to resume attending their physical classes. So, how do you ensure the safety of your child amidst this situation?

Let’s discuss some safety tips and precautions for returning to school during COVID-19

1. Practice Safe Distancing

Social or physical distancing is the practice of allowing enough space (6 ft or more) between individuals to avoid physical contact and reduce the spread of disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends keeping a safe distance of at least 6 ft between yourself and the ones outside your household during the COVID-19 situation. 

But these might be a little difficult to implement in some schools and even more so with younger children. Here are some steps to encourage social distancing during in-person schooling:

• Eliminating lockers at school
• One-way traffic in school hallways
• Using outdoor spaces as much as possible
• Reducing the number of children on a school bus
• Spacing the desks
• Using physical barriers to separate teachers and students
• Dividing students into distinct groups to minimize interaction with one another

2. Wear a Mask

The WHO recommends wearing cloth face masks in public places where it is difficult to avoid close interaction with others, and schools are no exception. This advice has been given keeping in mind that individuals infected with COVID-19 can transmit the virus before realizing that they have it. 

If your child’s school specifically asks for them to wear a cloth face mask, consider the following tips:

• Make it a priority to wear cloth face masks when it is difficult to avoid contact, for example on the school bus.
• Provide your child with a couple of back-up face masks along with a clean face mask that they are already wearing.
• Label your child’s mask so that it isn’t confused with somebody else’s.
• Remind your child to clean their hands before and after putting on a face mask
• Ask them to never share their masks

3. Keep Hands Clean

This goes without saying. Keeping your hands clean is a primary safety precaution that should be practised by everyone. Here are some tips on asking your children to keep clean hands:

• Practice hand-washing at home with your child, explaining its importance.
• Ask your child to use a hand sanitizer when hand-washing isn’t possible.
• Encourage daily habits to keep your child as clean as possible.

4. Stay home if sick

You should monitor your child for the symptoms of COVID-19 every day. These include:

• Nasal Congestion or runny nose
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Poor appetite 
• Vomiting/Nausea
• Diarrhoea
• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell
• Belly Pain
• Pink eye

If you find any of these symptoms in your child, make sure they don’t go to school for some time. If the symptoms are too serious, consider taking a COVID test.

Following these safety measures will ensure that your child is as safe as possible once the schools reopen.