Healthy Environments for Kids: Safekeeping Campaign
"Safekeeping" means keeping your school or early childhood education center safe from environmental hazards.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Safekeeping campaign seeks to provide tips and resources to schools and early childhood education centers on maintaining environmentally safe and healthy facilities for kids and staff.
Whether you’re a school nestled among the lakes and pines "up north," or a daycare center in bustling Milwaukee, we want you to be equipped with best practices for reducing harmful chemical exposures and ensuring healthier air and water quality for everyone in your learning community.
Video 1: How to Safely Handle Chemicals and Disinfectants
Proper cleaning is essential to healthy learning communities.
View this video with Spanish (Español) or Hmong (Hmoob) subtitles
Learn the basics of safely handling chemical cleaners and disinfectants. Learn which products to use and when, as well as recommended personal protective equipment to wear and disposal practices to follow.
Available in English | Spanish (Español) | Hmong (Hmoob)
Chemical use: cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
- Cleaning, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Schools – a Toolkit for School Administrators (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC)
- Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education (Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit)
- About List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Environmental Protection Agency – EPA)
- Guidelines for COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection: Effective and responsible cleaning and disinfecting practices for staff and student health and safety (Green Seal: Healthy Green Schools and Colleges Campaign)
- 6 Steps for Safe and Effective Disinfectant Use (EPA)
- Cleaning and Sanitizing with Bleach after an Emergency (CDC)
Waste management
- Managing Waste and Materials (Department of Natural Resources)
Pesticide management
- Certified Pesticide Applicator Database Searches (Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection)
- Personal Protective Equipment for Pesticide Handlers (EPA)
Video 2: Safely Use Chemical Cleaners and Disinfectants
Be sure to use the right product for the task at hand.
View this video with Spanish (Español) or Hmong (Hmoob) subtitles
This video explores the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting, and highlights important components of a cleaning and sanitizing plan for your facility.
Available in English | Spanish (Español) | Hmong (Hmoob)
- Cleaning, Disinfection, and Hand Hygiene in Schools – a Toolkit for School Administrators (CDC)
- Green Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting: A Toolkit for Early Care and Education (Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit)
- About List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) (EPA)
- Guidelines for COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection: Effective and responsible cleaning and disinfecting practices for staff and student health and safety (Green Seal: Healthy Green Schools and Colleges Campaign)
- 6 Steps for Safe and Effective Disinfectant Use (EPA)
- Cleaning and Disinfecting after a confirmed COVID-19 case, P-026198 (DHS) (PDF)
Video 3: Maintaining Safe Facilities: Air Quality
Public health guidelines ensure safe air in your buildings.
View this video with Spanish (Español) or Hmong (Hmoob) subtitles
This video summarizes the latest guidelines to establish and maintain healthy air quality for your students and staff. Learn recommended settings and protocols for your HVAC system, including air filtration, distribution, and exchange.
Video 4: Maintaining Safe Facilities: Water Quality
Safe drinking water is essential to a healthy learning environment.
View this video with Spanish (Español) or Hmong (Hmoob) subtitles
This video offers tips for ensuring the safety of your drinking water and maintenance of your water distribution system. Learn the importance of flushing and inspecting faucets, following water testing requirements and recommendations, and developing a water management program.
