New Survey Reveals that Parents Rank January as the "Germiest" Month

Wet Ones Germ Report Card Finds 1 in 3 Kids Will Catch Four or More Colds This Year, According to Their Parents

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Jan 14, 2015, 09:49 ET

SHELTON, Conn., Jan. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A new survey released by Wet Ones® reveals your kids may be in for the most challenging month of the cold season. The Wet Ones Germ Report Card, a national survey analyzing children's hygiene habits and their parent's perceptions of them, shows that parents with children in grades K-6 believe January is the "germiest" moth of the year. What's more, 84% of parents listed schools as the biggest incubator of germs, creating a potentially challenging time to stay healthy as kids return to the classroom following the holiday break.

Additional survey findings showed more than 90 percent of parents admitted to witnessing their child engage in "dirty habits" such as blowing their nose on their clothes (50 percent). The survey also showed that 48 percent of parents have seen their child eat a booger and have watched their child eat food off the floor. The biggest offense is happening in the bathroom, with 85 percent of parents witnessing their children forgetting to wash their hands after using the bathroom, and admitting that it likely happens more frequently when they are not around.

"Staying healthy during cold and flu season is already an uphill battle. While we understand that kids will be kids, we facilitated the Wet Ones Germ Report Card to better understand how parents feel about this topic," said Danielle Duncan, Wet Ones Brand Manager at Energizer Personal Care. "We hope to educate parents on the prevalence of germs during the winter months and offer easy tips to help families stay healthy this New Year."

Practice What You Preach
Parents can fight the sneezing and sniffling that January germs deliver by practicing healthy habits themselves. Sure, most parents say they encourage their kids to wash their hands (93 percent), and clean household surfaces regularly (79 percent). However, there is plenty that parents aren't doing that could help keep their family cold-free.

68 percent don't feed kids leafy greens
62 percent don't encourage exercise
45 percent don't keep wet wipes handy

"Interestingly, 60 percent of parents surveyed believed that they would definitely catch their child's cold," said Dr. Keri Peterson, nationally recognized physician and Wet Ones partner. "With cold and flu season upon us, it is important for parents to be aware of their children's healthy habits like hand-washing, and take proactive measures to keep the full family healthy. Taking simple steps like packing antibacterial wet wipes in your child's lunch box or backpack provides a simple solution to make hand-washing at school much easier. Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes are a convenient way to wipe away germs and kill 99.99% of bacteria when soap and water aren't readily available, and might be the jump start your child needs to start some healthy habits in the New Year because they're so easy to use."

Winter Health Tips from Dr. Peterson

Ward Off Germs: Germs are spread through hand-to-hand contact or when sneezed or coughed into the air. To minimize exposure, avoid shaking hands, keep away from others who are sick and stay out of crowded rooms.
Keep Hands Clean: The first and easiest line of defense against the spread of germs is washing hands often. When soap and water are not available, antibacterial hand wipes like Wet Ones wipes are an effective alternative. Wet Ones clean better than hand sanitizers, wiping away dirt and messes and killing 99.99% of bacteria and won't dry out skin like alcohol-based sanitizers. Keep them around the house, in lunchboxes and in pockets.
Eat Immune-Boosting Foods: The best way to boost the immune system is to increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and yogurt.
Clear the Nose and Sinuses: Germs often settle first in the nose and sinuses, so it's important to keep nasal passages clear by either flushing them out with a saltwater solution or loosening secretions with a facial steamer or vaporizer.
Stay Active: Movement mobilizes the immune system. Kids who sit too much – especially indoors – get sick more often. Movement also mellows the mood, as stress depresses the immune system.

Wet Ones are available nationwide at mass, drug and grocery stores nationwide and come in three convenient sizes so you can keep them at home, in the car, and in purses and backpacks. Visit www.WetOnes.com for more information.

About the Wet Ones Germ Report Card
The Wet Ones Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 parents of children in grades K-6, plus 200 interviews in each of the top 15 DMAs: Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa between September 24th and October 10th, using an email invitation and an online survey.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points for the nationally representative U.S. sample, and 6.9 percentage points for each of the top 15 DMAs, from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About Wet Ones® Wipes Products
Wet Ones is a registered trademark of Playtex Products, LLC, whose parent company is Energizer Personal Care, Inc. Wet Ones® Antibacterial Hand Wipes kill 99.99 percent of germs and clean better than hand sanitizers.

Media Contact
Kelly Pepe
Edelman, for Wet Ones
908-902-4435
[email protected]

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SOURCE Wet Ones