With all the discussion about “virtual learning” lately, it’s important to keep in mind that a lot of kids are still physically attending classes.
And while every school district has had its own methods for trying to curb the spread of illnesses and germs, it’s still important to take care of yourself and your students both in and out of school. One way to do this, that has grown in popularity since the school year began, is the idea of a ‘temperature check station’.
While the science is still out as to how to best track symptoms of COVID-19, one of the most consistently reliable ways has been an increase in temperature. A raised temperature is still considered a good indicator of potential COVID-19 infection, and as such a lot of families are instituting more regular temperature checks in their home to make sure everyone is feeling good and not carrying around any unwanted diseases.
One of the safest ways to do this is to create a dedicated “temperature screening station” near the entryway to help check your kids right at the door whenever needed. This can help you make it a more common part of your daily routine, and help your kids feel a little more comfortable about the process.
Create A Temperature Screening Room In Your Home
The first thing to focus on is location. Making sure you can check your kids’ temperature in the same spot every day will go a long way towards establishing a routine, so make sure to try and pick a spot where everyone can get it done quickly and easily. Usually the entryway would be ideal for this, but if there’s not enough room, find a room just off the entryway (a bathroom, a corner office, etc) to set everything up.
From there, you’ll just want to make sure you have the right storage. One of the safest ways to do it would be to use something that can resist germs and rust, like home wire shelves or rust proof shelves, which can come in especially handy if you want to keep other medical/first aid supplies in the same area. Depending on where you do these temperature checks, you may be able to repurpose your bathroom storage racks to fit these items as well. This could also serve double-duty, as you can use these shelves to store backpacks and other school supplies that may need to come home with your kids every day.
As the space comes together, you’ll need to make sure to set some kind of usage rules. Try to limit occupation of the space during checks (to keep everything accurate), and make sure nobody uses those shelves for a lot else when they get in there.
This, admittedly, is the easy part. Once you have the space set up (and the thermometers in hand, of course), you just need to get everyone in the habit of checking it. If your kids are old enough, teach them how to use the thermometers themselves to help make it part of their morning routine, alongside brushing their teeth and trying not to forget their backpack.
Your family might need a period of adjustment to these steps. Little kids may need help using the thermometer, and it might seem a little scary at first, but it can go a long way towards keeping you better aware of your family’s health and safety.
