Absences-feat

Combating Student Absenteeism Through Advanced Disinfection Strategies

by Insights

Combating Student Absenteeism Through Advanced Disinfection Strategies

In an era where educational outcomes are critically linked to student attendance, school districts are increasingly recognizing the powerful connection between robust disinfection protocols and reduced absenteeism. This makes implementing effective disinfection strategies not just a health priority, but an academic and financial imperative. The stakes are high: funding depends on attendance, and research consistently demonstrates that consistent classroom participation directly correlates with academic success.

The Limitations of Traditional Cleaning Methods

Traditional school disinfection approaches often fall short of comprehensive protection:

  • Periodic surface cleaning by janitorial staff provides only intermittent protection
  • HVAC filtration systems are passive, requiring pathogens to already be circulating before removal
  • Manual cleaning methods cannot consistently address rapidly spreading microorganisms

Proactive Disinfection: A Game-Changing Approach

Advanced disinfection technologies represent a paradigm shift in school health management. Proactive solutions that introduce airborne oxidizers offer multiple critical advantages:

  • Continuous surface disinfection, even when spaces are unoccupied
  • Immediate pathogen neutralization in both air and on surfaces
  • Reduced transmission risk for students, teachers, and staff
  • Prevention of microorganism buildup between cleaning cycles

Real-World Impact: A Case Study

A school system in Georgia provides compelling evidence of these advanced strategies’ effectiveness. After implementing a comprehensive airborne disinfection system in early 2023, they documented remarkable improvements:

The Broader Implications

These results reveal a critical insight: investment in sophisticated disinfection technologies is not just about preventing illness—it’s about creating an environment that maximizes educational opportunities and student potential.

By embracing innovative approaches to school hygiene, districts can simultaneously address health challenges, improve attendance, and enhance overall educational outcomes.

https://www.fox21news.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/649852483/meriwether-county-school-system-installs-caspr-technology-to-disinfect-air-and-surfaces-in-district-schools/

https://www.utep.edu/education/cerps/_files/docs/briefs/cerps_policybrief5_attendance.pdf

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Meriwether School District’s Journey to Reducing Absenteeism with CASPR Technologies

by Blog

In a proactive move to prioritize student and staff safety, the Meriwether County School System in Georgia embarked on a journey to enhance disinfection protocols and reduce absenteeism ahead of the new school year. This initiative involved the installation of cutting-edge disinfection technology units from CASPR Technologies across the district, aimed at safeguarding against pathogens, mold, and viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2.

Phase One: Implementing CASPR Transit Units

The journey began back in 2021 when CASPR Transit units were installed on Meriwether’s entire bus fleet, effectively reducing absenteeism among bus drivers and improving overall student and driver health. 

Mickie Samper, Director of Transportation, noted a significant shift, “with the CASPR Transit units, we have seen a reduction in bus driver absenteeism. In addition, we had a driver comment it was the first time in 30 years of driving a school bus that she didn’t have a bus full of sick kids, and a year when she herself didn’t get sick.” 

A stark contrast to previous years, drivers were reporting fewer instances of sick students and themselves remaining healthy. The CASPR Transit units’ success in enhancing the health and well-being of both drivers and students sets the standard for transportation safety in schools nationwide.

Phase Two: Extending Protection to School Facilities

Building on the success of the CASPR Transit units, the district collaborated with CASPR distributor BioShark to deploy a comprehensive array of CASPR units throughout school, athletic, and administrative facilities. 

“CASPR’s technology and products have been proven safe and effective against some of today’s most virulent pathogens,” said Shannon Grube, Principle of BioShark. “As a distributor of CASPR to K-12, we believe this technology is a game-changer for protecting students and staff and helping to improve absenteeism. The beautiful part about the technology is that it continuously and safely disinfects without chemicals, even while people are present.” 

The units utilize CASPR’s proprietary NCC™ technology, converting humidity into safe levels of gaseous hydrogen peroxide to continuously disinfect air and surfaces, boasting an impressive efficacy rate of up to 99.96%. After Bioshark highlighted the efficacy and safety of CASPR technology, the district moved forward with confidence, recognizing the transformative potential of these units in safeguarding the health of students and staff across various facilities.

Phase Three: Observing Positive Impact

As the new academic year commenced, teachers and staff members like Rebekah Cook noticed immediate improvements in air quality and overall cleanliness. Cook, an asthma sufferer, highlighted the relief of breathing easier in classrooms equipped with CASPR technology, anticipating positive effects on student attendance and well-being: 

“I have asthma and breathing isn’t always easy. Since the installation of the air filtration system, I can breathe! My chest doesn’t feel heavy, and I have not had to use my rescue inhaler while setting up my classroom for the new school year. The entire school feels cleaner and smells fresher. I can’t wait to see how this system helps our students and see the positive impact it has on attendance!”

As the school year progresses, Cook eagerly anticipates witnessing firsthand the positive impact of improved air quality on student attendance and overall well-being. The implementation of CASPR technology not only promises a brighter future for students but also reinforces our commitment to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all.

Acknowledging Success and Recognition

The district’s proactive approach to health and safety has garnered recognition, with Superintendent Dr. Robert Griffin expressing pride in the substantial reduction in absenteeism. 

“The implementation of CASPR Technologies has been a game-changer for our district,” Dr. Griffin remarked. “The notable decrease in absenteeism underscores the positive impact of prioritizing the health and safety of our students. We are committed to fostering an environment where students can thrive academically and feel secure in their learning spaces.”

Amidst the educational landscape, the Meriwether County Board of Education stood out as a beacon of excellence, its commitment to student welfare recognized and celebrated at the GSBA Conference where they were honored as an “Exemplary School Board.” Their unwavering dedication to prioritizing student welfare through initiatives and actions have set a standard of exemplary leadership in the education community.

Looking Ahead with CASPR Technologies

The success of Meriwether School District’s journey illuminates the transformative impact of CASPR Technologies in creating healthier learning environments. With a commitment to innovation and safety, CASPR continues to lead the way in advanced indoor air quality and surface disinfection solutions, empowering educational communities like Meriwether to foster environments where students can thrive.

About Meriwether School District

Meriwether School District stands as a beacon of innovation in education, embracing change and prioritizing student welfare at every turn. The recent adoption of CASPR Technologies district-wide reflects the district’s unwavering dedication to creating safe and conducive learning environments for all.

About CASPR Technologies

CASPR Technologies stands at the forefront of indoor air quality and surface disinfection innovation, delivering products and services that redefine standards for health and wellness. From hospitals to educational institutions, CASPR’s solutions are transforming indoor environments, ensuring safety and well-being for all occupants.

 
Air Quality in Health Care Facilities: Protecting Patients and Health Care Workers

Air Quality in Healthcare Facilities: Protecting Patients and Health Care Workers

by Blog

By Dr. Margaret Scarlett

After more than three years, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is not the prevailing health concern of Americans. On May 11, 2023, at 11:59 pm, the Public Emergency due to COVID-19 is officially over. (1) What have we learned in these three years? Can’t we just go back to the way it was before the epidemic began in 2020? The answer is NO.

We must go forward. There is no going back. We have learned a lot about respiratory infections in this time period. We have learned enough to provide better respiratory protection for both patients and healthcare workers in healthcare facilities. In the healthcare setting, we learned that bloodborne pathogen standards are necessary, but insufficient, to protect both patients and healthcare workers. We learned that more must be done.

The grim statistics let us know the problems. By April 2023, more than 1.6 million Americans have died due to COVID-19, pneumonia, and influenza since the start of the epidemic. (2) All of these are respiratory diseases. The toll among healthcare workers has been high as well, with increased risks of exposure, and higher deaths than the general
population. (3)

There are numerous guidelines, including droplet guidelines, just not airborne transmission guidance…YET. But there will be. Are you ready? While OSHA has yet to release a standard, increased vigilance in infection control is one significant outcome of COVID-19. Early indicators are that OSHA is likely to include air quality in healthcare facilities. We have learned that enclosed spaces carry a higher risk for the acquisition of respiratory infections. Meanwhile, the Association of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) released an updated position paper on infectious aerosols in October 2022. We are trying to catch up.

Numerous organizations are addressing this issue, including the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Enclosed spaces in health care settings, and also in transportation, public buildings, and meatpacking industries are being considered.

Droplet transmission guidelines are not enough, we have learned. Aerosol transmission is a concern. For healthcare settings, one nosocomial infection outbreak reported was among six healthcare workers, three of whom did not have direct contact with a child or his mother. No aerosol-generating procedures were performed, and the child was asymptomatic. The child did not cough, sneeze, cry or talk. Yet, the healthcare workers were infected even though more than six feet away from the source of the infected child patient.

All six wore surgical masks and most were at a distance of 6 feet or more without any direct contact. Three did not contact any shared equipment or surfaces. (4) What happened? We have learned that air contains an infective virus, and when the viral load is enough to accessible tissues like the nasal membranes, aerosols can transmit this respiratory disease, COVID-19, from a distance. Droplet or contact transmission just cannot explain this away. Air quality is important.

 

Dr. Margaret ScarlettDr. Margaret Scarlett is a public health expert in infectious diseases and infection control. Retired from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as a Commissioned Corps Officer of the US Public Health Service, Dr. Scarlett is now a consultant to healthcare, hospitals, and outpatient health facilities. Focusing on improved health outcomes over the last 20 years, she has provided leadership, developed and implementing strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality, due to preventable illness. In addition to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Scarlett provides expertise to the World Health Organization, eight Ministries of Health, the US Department of State, the US Agency for International Development, numerous states and local health departments, and CDC. Click here to learn more.

SOURCES:

      1. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/covid-19-public-health-emergency/index.html
      2. National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC).  Provisional Death Counts for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm
      3. Lin S, Deng X, Ryan I, et al. COVID-19 Symptoms and Deaths among Healthcare Workers, United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2022;28(8):1624-1641. doi:10.3201/eid2808.212200.
      4. Goldberg L, Levinsky Y, Marcus N, Hoffer V, Gafner M, Hadas S, Kraus S, Mor M, Scheuerman O. SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Workers Despite the Use of Surgical Masks and Physical Distancing-the Role of Airborne Transmission. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021 Jan 27;8(3):ofab036. doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab036. PMID: 33732749; PMCID: PMC7928680.
      5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8831082/
CASPR Technologies Announces Exciting Merger with NDS-360

CASPR Technologies Announces Exciting Merger with NDS-360

by News

DALLAS — CASPR Technologies, a pioneer in advanced photocatalytic technology for indoor air and surface disinfection, is excited to announce the sale of its assets to one of its main distributors, NDS-360. This strategic merger will enhance the customer experience by providing better service, improved support, and valuable marketing assistance to our valued distributors.

CASPR Technologies is confident that joining forces with NDS-360 will lead to a brighter future for both companies and their customers. The merger ensures that business operations will continue as usual, with the added benefit of NDS-360’s robust infrastructure and resources.

“By combining our innovative technology with NDS-360’s exceptional distribution network and support services, we are confident CASPR Technologies will make an even greater impact in the indoor air quality and disinfection market,” said Matt Horine, COO of CASPR Technologies.

Distributors can expect a seamless transition and enhanced support from the combined organization. The merger will provide access to an expanded range of services, including superior customer support, comprehensive marketing assistance, and streamlined logistics.

“We look forward to growing and improving CASPR Technologies and are committed to providing our distributors with the best possible service and support. We are excited to explore new opportunities and growth in the industry,” said Nick Licata, CEO of NDS-360.

For more information about the merger and future developments, please visit www.casprtech.com or contact us at info@casprtech.com.

About CASPR Technologies
CASPR Technologies is a leading innovator in advanced photocatalytic technology, specializing in indoor air and surface disinfection solutions. The company’s products are designed to improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of disease transmission in various settings, including hospitals, offices, schools, and public transportation.

About NDS-360
NDS-360 is a prominent distributor of cutting-edge technologies, offering comprehensive solutions for a wide range of industries. With a commitment to exceptional customer service, NDS-360 provides clients with the latest advancements in air purification, surface disinfection, and environmental monitoring.

Media Contact
Sarah Sieh
VP of Marketing
marketing@casprtech.com