Did you know that nearly 22 million school days are lost each year to the common cold?

On average, elementary students contract eight to 10 colds or flu cases each year.

Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces anywhere from a few seconds to 48 hours, and some bacteria stays on surfaces for months.

Many schools define a clean surface by visual inspection, but when quantitative standards are used to measure cleanliness health can improve.

Bill Balek, Director of Legislative and Environmental services at ISSA, was a special live guest on the CBS 58 News at 4:30 p.m.

Issa is the trade association for the cleaning industry and Balek says it is important for parents to be proactive and engage janitorial staff on procedures.

Balek also suggested that parents really look at cleanliness and not just school projects at the teacher/parent conferences.

His interview is attached to this text.