LYSOL® Wants to Help Make This the Healthiest School Year Ever

PARSIPPANY, N.J., Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 22 million schools days are lost each year to the common cold alone.(1) As parents receive school supply lists, more and more teachers are requesting disinfecting wipes to help keep their classrooms germ free.  In fact, along with washing hands, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends placing disinfecting wipes in classrooms, and encouraging students and staff to wipe down frequently-touched surfaces and objects before each use.(2) That is why LYSOL, as part of its LYSOL Mission for Health, is making it easier for parents across the country to donate wipes to their child's school. During this Back to School season LYSOL is offering parents the opportunity to get a free canister of LYSOL wipes when you buy any two other LYSOL products.(3)

LYSOL is also extending its LYSOL Mission for Health into the classroom with its Blue Ribbon School Attendance Challenge. The program is designed to teach students healthy habits and strive for improved attendance. The program, developed in conjunction with pediatrician Dr. Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P., includes:

• Blue Ribbon Attendance Contest: LYSOL is rewarding schools that demonstrate the best attendance rate and parent participation in the program during the month of November, 2011. A total of $25,000 in prizes is available
• Online curriculum of resources at www.lysol.com for teachers to help teach students healthy habits

"Educating children about healthy habits is much more effective when it's done as a team effort between parents and teachers," said Dr. Jana. "Making these learning activities fun will encourage children to incorporate healthier hygiene habits, such as hand washing, into their daily routines -- both at home and at school."

Additional online, fun hygiene resources for children can be found by visiting www.oopkids.com.

For more information about how to receive the LYSOL Free Wipes Offer and details about the Blue Ribbon School Attendance Challenge, visit www.lysol.com/schools.

About LYSOL® / Reckitt Benckiser

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) is a world leader in household, health and personal care. It is a FTSE top 25 company and since 2000, net revenues have doubled and the market cap has quadrupled.  Today it is the global No 1 or No 2 in the majority of its fast-growing categories, driven by an exceptional rate of innovation -- typically about 35 percent of net revenue comes from innovations launched in the prior three years. It has a strong portfolio led by 19 global powerbrands which are: Finish, Lysol, Dettol, Vanish, Woolite, Durex, Calgon, Airwick, Harpic, Bang, Mortein, Veet, Nurofen, Clearasil, Strepsils Gaviscon, Mucinex, Scholl and French's, and they account for 70% of  net revenue. RB people are at the heart of the company's success. They have an intense drive for progress and action and a desire to outperform wherever they focus, including in CSR where the company has the most ambitious corporate responsibility program in the industry through its Carbon 20 initiative.  Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the company employs about 25,000 people worldwide, with operations in over 60 countries and sales in almost 200 countries.  For more information, please visit www.RB.com.

(1) http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm

(2) http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.htm

(3) Available with mail-in rebate with original cash register receipt(s) dated between 07/01/2011 and 10/31/2011 showing purchase of three LYSOL® products (one of which is LYSOL® wipes). Up to $3.00 value. Visit Lysol.com/schools for offer details. *Online survey among 1,003 US moms in paid employment with children under 12 years old was conducted by Opinion Matters for LYSOL between September 16, 2010 and October 9, 2010.

Contact:  Andrea Brancheau
Porter Novelli
(212) 601-8252
[email protected]

SOURCE LYSOL