Recently I had a concerned parent email me about the cleanliness of indoor play centres as she had previously visited some play centres and her son had the Norovirus 3 times in 6 weeks! Mind you the play centres are not completely to blame, sadly enough we have to look at other parents who bring their sick child out to share their lovely viruses with others.

I also have wondered about this subject, I always feel the need to “Lysol” my child down when we leave any indoor play centre. But, unless you follow your child with Lysol I am sure she has come into contact with some form of germs, which makes me cringe to even think about! Nothing is worse when you see a child with green mucus running down their face as they cough on your child and smear it all over whatever the child was playing with at the time!

When I heard from this concerned parent telling me she literally saw a child vomit and then go into the play centre that purely disgusted me as we might as well let our kids swim in a petri dish full of germs! It is pretty sad when the parent goes this far, just to have some of their “me time”. Believe me I love my “me time” but I would never go that far!

These facilities should be on top of these issues and should be very informed about these viruses and how to kill the germs, I think at they should have warnings on how to stop the spreading of the virus, also a guideline listed on how they stay on top of the cleanliness and I also think they should have a right to refuse a child if they are sick. But that is an ideal world, so I think we as parents should inform these play centres when we feel something is not clean as if there are enough complaints then we should have less viruses floating around and probably a lot more cleaning going on!

I do realize kids “need” to catch colds in order to develop some immunity. Kids need contact with germs so that their immune systems can develop antibodies to deal with them. But if you or your child has ever had a Norovirus you would understand the germ fear. I have never have felt worse, along with my hubby and daughter. I lost 5 pounds in one night and my hubby 6 pounds, it is a very draining, awful experience, so imagine what the child feels like!

If you are not aware of Norovirus, this virus is extremely contagious. People with this virus should not really go into public places unless they have been virus free for three – four days. I was reading this on Public Health Agency of Canada:
(http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/Norovirus-eng.php)

“People carry Noroviruses, which are found in the stool or vomit of infected individuals, while they are ill and up to at least three or four days after recovery. Some people may be contagious for as long as two weeks after recovery. People are usually infected with Noroviruses by direct contact with a person who is ill or has recently been ill or through indirect contact by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus, like door handles or by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.

The virus is able to survive relatively high levels of chlorine and varying temperatures and can survive on hard surfaces in the environment for up to 12 hours. It has been found to survive on contaminated carpet for up to 12 days. Noroviruses are easily transmitted in environments where people are in close contact, including schools, day-care centres, long-term care facilities, healthcare facilities and cruise ships.”

I think all parents should take the Initiative and take precautions, wait until your child is all better as in long run its better has if the child passes it to a friend, chances are they will come right back to your child. Make sure your child is washing their hands after they go to the washroom and if you think your child has it and they vomit, use gloves to clean it up as it is very contagious, an dif possible use bleach if not a germ killing spray! And most importantly if your child is sick, stay home please!

More info on the Norovirus?
http://www.bchealthguide.org/healthfiles/hfile87.stm#01234
What is Norovirus?
Noroviruses are a group of viruses that cause acute gastroenteritis, also known as stomach flu or winter vomiting disease. This is not influenza or the flu, which is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus.

What are the symptoms?
Within a day or two of being exposed to a Norovirus, you may have an upset stomach and start vomiting, often followed by cramping, chills, fever and diarrhea. The illness usually begins suddenly and lasts only for one to three days. Sometimes complications occur if people lose too much fluid from vomiting and diarrhea and do not drink enough fluids. This is more likely to occur with babies, the elderly and persons with weakened