Lysol® Develops Innovative Cold & Flu Education and Prevention Program to Help Protect Against Germs and Reduce Sick Days This School Year

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Dec. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, more than 38 million school days are missed by students due to the flu¹, and last year's cold & flu season hit U.S. families especially hard, with a record-breaking 900,000 hospitalizations and more than 80,000 flu-related deaths². Sick days negatively affect children, who miss out on valuable classroom lessons and social moments. Parents also struggle with logistical issues, financial consequences and undue stress as a result of keeping their sick child home. That's why today, Lysol®, an RB brand and leader in germ kill for more than 100 years, is launching the One Less Sick Day initiative, an innovative cold & flu education and prevention program with the goals of helping to protect students against germs and reducing the number of sick days this school year.

As part of this initiative, Lysol is educating parents, students and teachers across the country to arm them with information on ways to minimize the spread of cold & flu germs and create clean, safe environments. Lysol is encouraging families and teachers to utilize the Lysol Healthy Habits program, which provides fun, educational materials for kids to help them build illness prevention habits that help reduce illness-related absenteeism. The program was developed in partnership with the National Education Association (NEA) and National Parent Teacher Association (PTA), with messaging support from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

To keep parents more informed of illnesses going around their child's school and allow them to act sooner, Lysol is also partnering with Kinsa, maker of the first FDA-cleared smart thermometer. Lysol and Kinsa will equip more than 10,000 schools across the country with free Kinsa smart thermometers and Lysol sanitizing products to help protect against viruses and bacteria. Kinsa smart thermometers and the connected mobile app help parents anonymously understand which illnesses are circulating, guiding them through next steps if fever and symptoms are cause for concern. Through this partnership, nurses and teachers in participating schools will receive a free Kinsa thermometer, and in select schools, every single parent will have the opportunity to receive a free Kinsa thermometer.

"As a champion of germ kill, Lysol is uniquely positioned to help prevent the spread of cold & flu, and we believe even just One Less Sick Day can make a big difference," said Ferran Rousaud, Marketing Director, Lysol. "By the time a cold or flu outbreak happens in your community, it is often too late, so the intention of this program is to help educate and inform parents and schools so that they can take action sooner."

La La Anthony is partnering with Lysol to help educate parents and arm them with tips to help prevent the spread of cold & flu germs. La La will be also sharing her own personal experience on the impact that sick days have on her and her school-aged son, insights on all the not-so-obvious places parents can help disinfect with Lysol Disinfectant Spray and information on Kinsa smart thermometers.

"The most important tool in shaping who my son is as a person is his education, and being in school to learn and interact with friends is vital for Kiyan and students all across the country," said La La Anthony, producer, actress and author. "That's why I'm so excited to be partnering with Lysol to educate parents, teachers and kids, and help reduce the number of sick days taken this school year."

Lysol Disinfectant Spray helps keep families healthy by killing 99.9% of viruses and bacteria – on hard surfaces –  that cause over 100 illnesses, including Rhinovirus, the leading cause of the common cold. Frequently spraying Lysol Disinfectant Spray on hard, commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, sink faucets, toilet seats, remote controllers, keyboards and phones, as well as on fabric and in the air, can help prevent the spread of bacteria. Lysol Disinfectant Spray is available at retailers nationwide. For more information visit http://www.lysol.com/disinfectant-spray/disinfectant-spray/.

About RB
RB is the global leading consumer health and hygiene company. Driven by a purpose of providing innovative solutions for healthier lives and happier homes, RB has operations in over 60 countries. From the foundations of wellness and infant nutrition, to the fundamentals of a hygienic home, its global brands help people live healthier, happier lives. 

RB has world leading Powerbrands which include household names such as Lysol, Mucinex, Enfamil, Nutramigen, Finish, Air Wick, Durex, Clearasil, Veet, Woolite, Nurofen, Strepsils, Gaviscon, Scholl, Dettol, Harpic, Cillit Bang, Mortein, Vanish, and Calgon.

RB's unique culture is at the heart of its success.  Its drive to achieve, passion to outperform and commitment to quality and scientific excellence are manifested in the work of over 40,000 employees worldwide. 

For more information visit http://www.rb.com/us/. 

*RB is the trading name of Reckitt Benckiser group of companies. 

About La La Anthony
La La Anthony is an Actress, Producer, New York Times Best-Selling Author and fashion-and-cosmetics Mogul whose presence in the film and TV industry is rapidly growing. 

La La recently made her Broadway producing debut with "Eclipsed," the celebrated drama starring Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o. Eclipsed is making history as the first all-female, all-black Broadway show. La La also stars as 'LaKeisha' on the hit Starz original drama series, "Power" executive produced by 50 Cent.

La La's film credits include the "Think like a Man" and "Think Like a Man Too," alongside Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson, and "Baggage Claim" alongside Paula Patton and Derek Luke. On TV, La La has had guest starring roles in the CBS crime drama, "NYC 22" and the popular Vh1 scripted show, "Single Ladies". On-stage, she starred in the Off Broadway production of "Love Loss and What I Wore".

As an entrepreneur, La La has had success in the fashion and beauty industries. She released "5th & Mercer", a capsule collection exclusively with Shopbop.com and is continuing to expand "Motives for La La", a line of makeup uniquely formulated for every shade of today's modern woman. 

La La currently resides in LA and New York with her husband and son.

About Kinsa
Kinsa is on a mission to detect illness in real-time, helping individuals and communities respond before it spreads. To achieve this, we've turned the first device you grab when sickness strikes - the thermometer - into a support system to help keep families healthy. From the first sign of illness through recovery and beyond, Kinsa answers your most pressing question - what to do next. Kinsa has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prize in Medical Innovation by the Cleveland Clinic, and is available in more than 5,000 retail locations in the US and Canada. www.kinsahealth.com.

¹ CDC: National Center for Health Statistics
² National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Report, 2018

SOURCE Lysol

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