Speaking of WIND!

Wow, the wind in Idaho this spring has been persistent at best!  We have had some pretty fiesty wind days and nights.  I hope nothing has blown away where you live.

Speaking of wind . . . Though playing a musical instrument can be very beneficial to a students intellectual growth, USED woodwind and brass instruments were found to be heavily contaminated with a variety of bacteria and fungi.

"Many children participate in their school's band ensemble and often the instruments they play are on loan. Most of these instruments have been played by other students, and without the proper sanitation, bacteria and fungi can thrive for weeks and even months after the last use."  R. Thomas Glass, DDS, PhD.

A total of 117 different sites on the previously played instruments were tested.  Some were played within a week and some not touched for a month. The 13 instruments produced 442 different bacteria, including staph, 58 molds and 19 yeasts.

"Parents may not realize that the mold in their child's instrument could contribute to the developement of asthma" said Glass.   Additionally, the yeasts on the instruments commonly cause skin infections around the mouth and lips ("red lips").

To avoid transmission of bacteria, parents and students should FREQUENTLY wipe the surface that comes in contact with the mouth, take the instrument apart and thouroughly clean on a regular basis, and most importantly, students should not share their intruments with others.  Students should consult their band leader for additional ways to disinfect their instruments.