From MyBlogSpark, but good information to know:
With nearly 22 million school days lost each year due to the common cold and flu (CDC) and as many as 2.7 million bacterial found per square inch on common school surfaces (NSF International), it’s no wonder that 82 percent of parents with kids in grades K-5 fret about the germs in their children’s classrooms (according to a survey conducted by Seventh Generation).
This school year, Seventh Generation is sharing tips from best-selling author and pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene, to help parents protect their child’s health during back-to-school season. Dr. Greene suggests taking the following precautions:
Optimize the immune system
* Reap the benefits of probiotics like those found in yogurt. A recent study showed that children who received enough probiotics daily throughout the cold and flu season had a significant reduction in the number of illnesses they had and, when they did get sick, the symptoms were both milder and didn’t last as long.
* Be sure your child is getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun, from food, or from a supplement.
* Build a strong foundation. Good food, good sleep, and good physical activity all help the immune system to flourish.
Be wise about reducing unnecessary exposure to harmful germs
* Teach children the key times to clean their hands in the classroom. The most important times include after sneezing, coughing or using the restroom, upon leaving “high-risk” places (recess, naptime, play stations) and before meals or snacks.
* Sixty percent of teachers surveyed said that they request that parents donate disinfecting wipes to the classroom. Seventh Generation’s disinfecting wipes kill 99.99% of germs* naturally using the active ingredient thyme, a component of thyme oil which is derived from the herb thyme.
* Stress the importance of not touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
* Demonstrate to your children how to cover their mouth and nose for every cough and sneeze. This simple maneuver has spectacular results in decreasing the spread of viruses and bacteria floating about the room, waiting to be inhaled.
*Refer to disinfecting product labels for full details
With school approaching, getting supplies for the school room may be on the list for many young kids. Now is a great time to consider the healthy solution to cleaning supplies: natural cleaners, recycled tissues and paper towels.
Now MyBlogSpark and Seventh Generation would like to giveaway a lovely Back-to-School kit. They sent me one as well.
The Seventh Generation “Back-to-School” kit includes a Seventh Generation backpack, two canisters of Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes (one for home and one to donate to your child’s classroom), disinfecting multi-surface spray cleaner, facial tissue and paper towels.
The products work fantastically. As I’ve mentioned before, the smell is a little different but when you have been breathing in chemicals like bleach and ammonia all your life, and associate that with clean, what does that say about our health? This is a smell of clean that’s natural and friendly to your own enviornment.
To enter: Leave a comment here!
Earn a bonus entry: Leave a link to this contest on another forum, or website, or Tweet, link to us on Facebook or give some general link love (share the love!)
Rules and the legal bits: You must be 18 or older to participate and live inside the United States. One winner will be contacted by me and our friends at Seventh Generation and MyBlogSpark to redeem the prize. I will contact you personally to let you know you have won and to ensure the right method of contact.
The contest ends August 28th, 2010. Tell your friends, tell your family. Remember to check back to see who wins.
You can also check out Seventh Generation on Facebook and Twitter today! Visit Seventh Generation on Facebook or Seventh Generation on Twitter and “Like” or “Follow” the brand to keep up with the latest news from Seventh Generation.
We stay healthy and germ free with lots of disinfectant including wipes, hand sanitizer, and hand-washing
*Thanks* for the giveaway!
Shared the giveaway on Facebook
I recently discovered Seventh Generation products and would enjoy the opportunity to continue using them. Thanks for offering this!
we wash up alot mverno@roadrunner.com
Wash your hands when you handle food..
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
wash up- keep things like door handles clean
Get plenty of sleep, eat right and always wash your hands after going to the bathroom or before you eat.
I tweeted http://twitter.com/cstironkat/status/21360759940
Pingback: Tweets that mention Seventh Generation Back To School Giveaway | Geek Girl Blog -- Topsy.com
I’ve always wanted to try the Seventh Generation products!
I would love to win this!
We wash our hands with warm water and soap often.
It’s about time you fixed your spam protection, I haven’t been capable to comment in weeks!?!
I encourage lots of handwashing and change hand towels frequently.
Handwashing works well
We use soap and water before each meal or whenever dirty.
The first two weeks back at school is always a guarantee my daughter is going to come down with a cold; I plan to prepare a little better this year and try to keep her healthy. I bought some mini-hand sanitizer to keep in her bookbag.
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/21475341569
Seen your post in the blog post on OLS and seen you link to your blog and found this LOL. Thanks for such a great giveaway and LOVE the fast loading times of your blog
I really would love to try their clorine free bleach
Get plenty of sleep
Haven’t tried these yet ubt they are a good way of getting ready for the school year.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/rosannepm/status/21728909700
Shared on Facebook page (same name and e-mail address
I love their products
I’ve recentely become aware of the harmful affects of chemical cleansers. I’m glad that there are companies like Seventh Generation that believe in providing chemical-free cleaning and hygiene products!
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
I like the Seventh Generation products that I’ve tried so far, and would love to try the Free & Clear Automatic Dishwasher Powder
I love Seventh Generation products! I like being able to feel good about the products I use around my two young boys.
i don’t like germs at all.. i am constantly cleaning, and i always disinfect backpacks after school
would love to win – i am a germ-aphobe!
I would love to try the Seventh Generation products. I like that it is getting easier to buy healthier products.
luckycat1818(at)yahoo(dot)com
I haven’t tried their products yet but I would love to.
I love that the products do not contain chemicals like bleach. These would be great in my kids teachers classroom
waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com
Love Seventh Generation products. They will be great for the upcoming cold/flu season.
jas8929(at)gmail(dot)com
I wash my hands when I havent even done anything “dirty” and I’m not a nut. It sure doesnt hurt and water is cheap.
I love the idea of seventh generation products being natural. Their thyme scented disinfecting spray is especially good to use in kitchens and bathrooms and makes things smell so fresh.
We try to stay germ free by using anitbacterial soap and wipes.
We try to stay germ-free by eating lots of veggies and frequently washing our hands
Thanks for the chance to win!
I tihnk their products are great – Thanks for hosting this giveaway!
janicecrespo@gmail.com
I love this stuff…it’s hard to find products that agree with both children w/ allergies and pets.
I could really use this at my house… we are always trying to fight off germs.
We eliminate germs by washing hands.
enter me please, thank you for the giveaway
here is my tweet
http://twitter.com/rosidentevil/status/22332533070
Please enter me
these are great tips, we also encourage our little one to be active and happy believe in immunity boosting foods and healthy intenstines – as we learned in anatomy and physiology that intestines are basis to immune system.
I love green products!
Thanks
These products look fantastic. Would love to try them. Thanks for the giveaway
i make sure my kids wash their hands often and clean doorknobs and light switches daily
Between my kids and my nephews, I need all the help I can get fighting the germs.
We try to stay germ free by washing our hands often
http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/22379760727
like the wipes and washing hands often!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
Great contest
Tweeted: Take2Reviews
We all wash up as soon as we come in the door-from outside or going out to the store.
Tweet!~http://twitter.com/dresdenrain/status/22384227149
Never heard of this site before
http://twitter.com/spacebarshift/status/22387889229
Ive not tried that many of the products but the dissenfecting wipes I have and they were good.I liked them because they didnt have much of a smell to them like some wipes do
skyxsky27(at)gmail.com
I would LOVE to try their products!
I’ve never tried any of these products but have heard good reviews so would LOVE to try them. thanks.
Seventh Generation products look not only better for the environment but high quality. I would love to try them!
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
I tweeted this giveaway. http://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/22400207680
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
Thanks for the giveaway…I’ve noticed that some places are giving flu shots already…stay healthy !!!
senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/brianpiero/status/22401165644
We have soap and hand gel everywhere! tracietrump@yahoo.com
Would love to be entered, love seventh generation products!
Thank you for the Great giveaway please count me in
klp1965@myfairpoint.net
http://twitter.com/klp1965/status/22407269328
Superior post. Many thanks!