Survey: January 'germiest' month of the year
SHELTON, Conn. — A new survey released Wednesday by Wet Ones found that parents with children in grades K-6 believe January is the "germiest" month of the year. What's more, 84% of parents listed schools as the biggest incubator of germs, creating a potentially challenging time to stay healthy as kids return to the classroom following the holiday break.
Additional survey findings showed more than 90% of parents admitted to witnessing their child engage in "dirty habits" such as blowing their nose on their clothes (50%). The survey also showed that 48% of parents have seen their child eat a booger and have watched their child eat food off the floor. The biggest offense is happening in the bathroom, with 85% of parents witnessing their children forgetting to wash their hands after using the bathroom, and admitting that it likely happens more frequently when they are not around.
"Staying healthy during cold and flu season is already an uphill battle. While we understand that kids will be kids, we facilitated the Wet Ones Germ Report Card to better understand how parents feel about this topic," stated Danielle Duncan, Wet Ones brand manager at Energizer Personal Care. "We hope to educate parents on the prevalence of germs during the winter months and offer easy tips to help families stay healthy this New Year."
"Interestingly, 60% of parents surveyed believed that they would definitely catch their child's cold," commented Keri Peterson, Wet Ones partner. "With cold and flu season upon us, it is important for parents to be aware of their children's healthy habits like hand-washing, and take proactive measures to keep the full family healthy. Taking simple steps like packing antibacterial wet wipes in your child's lunch box or backpack provides a simple solution to make hand-washing at school much easier. Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes are a convenient way to wipe away germs and kill 99.99% of bacteria when soap and water aren't readily available, and might be the jump start your child needs to start some healthy habits in the New Year because they're so easy to use."
