This year, not only do we have to worry about getting the flu, but we are also starting to worry about the Coronavirus epidemic. While both are scary for parents, we don’t want to cause more panic. Instead, we want to share some realistic ways you can protect your family and your carpool from germs during this flu season. Plus, most of these preventative measures should be a regular part of your carpool every day and not just during flu season.
Keep Tissues on Board
If you don’t already keep tissues in your car within arm’s reach of all your passengers, now is the perfect time to stock up. They even make tissue boxes that are designed to fit in your vehicle’s cup holders. And, don’t just keep tissues in your car – make sure your young riders use them!
A Trashcan for the Car is a Must
Kids are messy, so if you are carpooling kids to and from school or extracurricular activities, it is wise to have a trashcan just for your car. Plus, if kids are using tissues as we suggested above, they need somewhere to put them, so you don’t have to touch them when you are cleaning up.
Always Have Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer is an absolute must for carpools. Keep it in your car, and have it ready to go whenever you need it. You may also want to enforce a hand sanitizing upon entering the vehicle rule – especially if you are the one doing the after-school pickups.
Encourage Kids to Take Preventative Measures
While hand sanitizer is great, hand washing is better. Since you can’t have kids washing their hands in your vehicle, it is important to encourage them to practice preventative measures at home. For example, as soon as your kids are dropped off at home from carpool, have them wash their hands immediately. Also, encourage your carpool riders to cough or sneeze into their elbows and not their hands.
Disinfect, Disinfect, Disinfect
When kids get the flu at home, we run around our house disinfecting everything to prevent the spread of it. You should do the same with your vehicle. If you discover someone in your carpool has the flu (or any other sickness), you need to disinfect, disinfect, disinfect. Pay special attention to the door handles and seats. Speaking of seats, car seats are filled with germs, so make sure you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning suggestions to make sure they get cleaned, too.
Air the Car Out
Since cars are such small spaces, they can become breeding grounds for germs. That’s why it is important to not only disinfect your car but also to air it out. Open the windows when possible and be sure to vacuum the car regularly.
Replace the Air Filters
Speaking of airing out your car, you should also replace your car’s air filters. With closed windows, your car’s heating and cooling systems are simply recycling the air – even the air filled with a carpool rider’s sick germs. One preventative measure is to replace your air filters more regularly to get rid of dust and other pollutants that may be clogging the filters.
Invest in a Portable Humidifier
There have been studies that suggest humidifiers can help prevent the flu. According to Seema Lakdawala, Ph.D. for Consumer Reports, “We’re in these really controlled indoor environments, where the air isn’t circulating, and we are breathing in what everyone else has breathed out” – like cars. Consumer Reports explains, “So, keeping the air more humid may mean fewer particles of flu floating around, so you’re less likely to breathe them in later.” That’s why it may be wise to invest in a portable humidifier for your car.
Avoiding Sending Sick Kids to School
Finally, avoid sending your kids to school and other activities when they are sick. Yes, this can be a pain since you have to take off work, but your fellow carpool parents will thank you since you have helped prevent the spread of germs.
