Tips for Staying Healthy & Avoiding Cold and Flu Season This School Year
Is it me or is back to school time the beginning of what seems like a never-ending cold and flu season? 30+ kids in a classroom for 8 hours of the day – it’s a recipe for germs. Luckily there are some steps parents can take to reduce the changes of their children getting a cold – or even worse, the flu. Every year I am hell bent on avoiding bad colds and the flu. Here are a couple of my tips for how to keep your family healthy this school year!
Wash Your Hands
This is the first line of defense. Teach your children how to properly wash their hands – especially after playing with friends and before they eat. Parents can help instill this by being a good role model for hand washing by washing their own hands regularly too. Make sure they use enough soap – and to scrub their hands for 2- seconds (or as long as it takes them to sing Happy Birthday). Show them to use a paper towel to turn off the faucet as well as to open the door in a public restroom.
Cough & Sneeze Properly
It is human nature for our kids to just couch and sneeze without thinking to keep their germs contained. However, it is really important that our children know how to properly cover their mouth to prevent the spreading of any illnesses to others. Make sure they know to use the bend of their elbow to cough or sneeze into rather than into their hands.
Keep Them Prepared
I send both of my daughters to school with a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer attached to their backpacks. They have ones from Bath and Body Works – they love picking out their favorite scents and a holder that adds a little flair to their backpack. You can get hand sanitizer from anywhere – even the dollar store – it’s great to have on hand in case a bathroom isn’t close by to wash their hands. I also have a travel pack of tissues tucked into their backpack as well to have with them for on the go.
Instill the Importance of Not Sharing Food and Drinks
Sharing is caring – but not when it comes to food and drinks this time of year. Sharing toys is great – but drinking from the same cup as someone who might be sick increases the chances that your child is infected. Definitely let your child know that they can politely decline a taste, and to have their own cups available to drink from.
Stay Home When Sick
One of the reasons colds and the flu spread so quickly is beause many people continue to go out and about when they are sick. I had a parent come to my office with the stomach flu. Unfortunately because of how severe the flu season has been in the past, I sent the parent home and cancelled the apt because I did not want to risk myself or anyone in my clinic getting sick.
Get Fresh Air
It’s so tempting to stay in the house as the temperature begins to drop in an effort to stay free of any viruses. Unfortunately, staying indoors all of the time can actually increase the chances of getting sick. Going outside allows us to breathe fresh, clean air – and it helps gives us space so that we’re not so close in proximity to those who may be sick.
These are just a couple of my tips that I use every year to help keep my family as healthy as possible. Do you have any tried and true techniques for keeping your family healthy? Leave some tips below in the comments!
