Back To School Means Cold & Flu Prevention!

It is that time of year again! The start of a new school year. Here at Totally Kids, we thought it was a good time to remind everyone how they can stay healthy while heading back to school and with cold & flu season upon us.

1. Make a habit of constantly washing your hands. Each day, our hands pick up millions germs that live on the surfaces of all the objects we touch. To avoid germs, make a habit of washing your hands several times a day, especially before you eat. Wash your hands when you get home, after going to places with lots of people, after handling a shopping cart, before you prepare a meal, and after you change your kid’s diaper or wipe your baby’s nose.The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that when washing our hands, we scrub them for at least 20 seconds, which is about the time it takes to hum the “Happy Birthday” song twice from beginning to end. This is also a great time to have children sing their ABC’s as they wash their hands!

 

• Teach your kids the habit of properly and constantly washing their hands. Even toddlers should get used to washing their hands before a meal. Hand washing can be turned into a fun activity for them. Toddlers can be taught to thoroughly wash their hands and wrists with lots of suds, and rinse with plenty of water, in a fun way.

• Have plenty of paper tissue within reach. Get your family into the habit of using plenty of Kleenex-type of tissue to cover the nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing. Believe it or not, the force of a sneeze can send germs flying for over 30 feet!

• Make your dishwasher and washing machine your BFF. Anything that goes into your kid’s mouth should be washed and sanitized. This includes toys, pacifiers, teething rings, and bottles. If a dishwasher is not an option, you can use a dishpan with hot [as hot as you can tolerate without getting hurt] and soap. Soft toys should be put in the laundry. This is particularly important during cold & flu season. 

• Give toothbrushes space, keep them dry, and know when to throw them away. Family toothbrushes should not be stored together. They should be placed in a toothbrush holder that does not allow them to touch each other. Shake them dry after each use, as most germs do not thrive on surfaces that are dry. Toothbrushes provide an environment that infectious organisms thrive in, so make it a habit to replace your toothbrush every three months and after you have had a cold or strep throat. 

 

• When recovering from sickness, wash bedding and nightclothes. If you or anyone in your family is recovering from a bout of sickness, wash the sheets, blankets, pajamas, and towels, in hot water. Face towels should be changed every day, especially during flu season. Wash down cribs, beds, and all bedroom surfaces, and open the windows to allow fresh air into the room.

• Maintain good habits in the kitchen. If you use dishtowels they should be changed every day. It is better to let dishes air dry. Above all, don’t dry your dishes with the same towel you use to dry your hands. Sponges should be cleaned in the dishwasher and changed often.

• Keep areas dry. As mentioned before, most infectious organisms do not survive for long in dry environments. After washing your sink and cleaning your counter-top, dry them with paper towels. This is a practice that can also be followed in bathrooms.

By adopting these preventative measures, hopefully you and your family can stay healthy as the new school year begins! What does your family do to stay healthy during the school year? Leave a comment and let us know!