Summer is almost over. That means it's almost time for your kids to head back to school. The last thing you want is for them to miss valuable instructional time during cold and flu season. You don't have to keep your kids in a bubble to protect them from getting sick this school year. Here are three simple steps you can take to help keep your kids healthy this year.
Make Handwashing a Habit
Kids don't always take the time to wash their hands. Unfortunately, those dirty hands are going to be carrying a lot of germs. Before your kids head back to school, make sure that handwashing has become a habit. They should be washing their hands before every meal, each time they use the rest room, and whenever they come in from the playground. In addition, you should also teach them how to wash their hands properly. A simple splash of the water isn't enough to get rid of the germs. Teach your kids to get their hands completely wet, use a drop or two of soap, and count to 30 while they wash their hands.
It's All About the Cough and Sneeze
If your kids are like most, they cover their mouth with their hands whenever they cough or sneeze. While that does prevent germs from spraying out of their mouths, it places the germs directly on the palms of your kid's hands. At that point, they'll transfer germs to every surface they touch. Teach your kids to cough and sneeze into the back of their elbow. To do that, they simply need to bend their arm and bring the back of their elbow up towards their mouth. This will prevent hand-to-hand or hand-to-surface germ transfer.
Teach Them the No-Hands Zone
Every time your kids touch their faces, they spread germs that could make them sick. Researchers have found that people touch their faces about 3.6 times each hour. To help keep your kids healthy this school year, teach them the no-hands zone, which are the eyes, nose and mouth. If you can get your kids in the habit of keeping their hands away from their face, you can help keep them healthy this year.
The new school year is just around the corner. Unfortunately, so is cold and flu season. Help your kids have a healthy school year by teaching them these quick and easy ways to avoid germs. Talk to your doctor, like Entira Family Clinics, for more info.
Share29 July 2016
After watching my mother navigate treatment for breast cancer in my early teens, I knew pretty much what to expect from my dad's diagnosis with prostate cancer. What I didn't know was how different chemotherapy and radiation can affect different people. My mother became very ill while my dad seemed to weather the treatments with few ill effects. I spent a long time researching the differences in treatments, types of chemotherapy, and how each one can react differently with the body. I created this blog to help others understand the same things, because I knew I couldn't be the only one unfamiliar with it. I hope it helps you if someone you love is facing treatment for any type of cancer.
