Say no to norovirus! Stop the spread of stomach bugs (Part 2)
When a stomach bug is going through school, it's almost inevitable a student will get sick in a place other than the bathroom. What if it's in the cafeteria?
Proper cleanup of such accidents is key to keeping illness from spreading further. You may be lucky to have a custodian be able to take care of it, but sometimes that may not be the case. Don't be left scrambling -- prepare now so you're ready to jump into action when needed.
1. Have a detailed plan on file that you can refer to in the event you need to clean up bodily fluids. Discuss policy and procedures with school administration. Between food service and custodial staff, the policy must meet local health department and ISBE requirements. Here are typical details to include:
- How and where to dispose of: Unused disinfectant solution; soiled gloves, mask, cover gown/apron, trash bags containing bodily fluids
- Disposable and non-disposable tools: How and where to dispose, how to clean and sanitize
- Discarding of food that may have been contaminated
- Employee procedures after cleanup (such as hand washing, returning to other assigned duties)
- Disinfecting restrooms
- Documenting incident per facility procedures
Keep in mind that your local health department may have additional requirements, so be sure to check with them. There are a variety of food safety SOP templates available from Institute of Child Nutrition, so don't feel like you need to start from scratch!
2. Have cleanup kits ready to go. You can purchase these online, or you can make your own. What should you include?
- Disposable non-latex gloves
- Disposable face masks
- Disposable gowns/aprons with sleeves
- Disposable hair cover
- Disposable shoe cover
- Sealable plastic bags
- Scoop/scraper
- Paper towels
- Absorbent powder/solidifier (kitty litter, saw dust, powder)
- Disinfectant
3. Don't forget to disinfect! Use an appropriate disinfectant solution and follow the directions accordingly. Virus particles can contaminate surfaces and food up to 25-30 feet away, so you will want to use the solution on a 30-foot radius. There are EPA-approved disinfectants for norovirus, or you can use a freshly-prepared bleach solution. Be careful that you mix to the correct strength, as amounts can vary depending on the strength of bleach you use. Download this handout for details!