Doctors suggest parents clean their children’s school gear

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Before your child goes back to school Tuesday, doctors want you to take the time to disinfect their stuff.

Shelby County Schools are asking parents to wash or disinfect your child’s belongings. They want to keep kids and teachers in school and out of the doctor’s office.

This weekend doctors say they saw a jump in flu patients. They are also seeing a lot of respiratory infections. Doctor’s offices are asking parents to clean your child’s school gear.

Doctors say it’s things like school supplies that kids use all day that can collect germs. Betsey Stuart, with Main Kids Street Urgent Care, says parents should do this often during the flu season.

“Those are not the items that have the most visible dirt. They are not the ones that they are playing out in the yard in, but those are the items in the lunch box and book bag that are getting carried around and touching a lot of surfaces. So they are more likely to have those germs staying in there -- staying in the material. So this is really a great opportunity to get those cleaned out,” she explains.

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