With kids heading back to school and the weather cooling down, early fall is an exciting and pleasurable time of year. One downside, of course, is that school-aged kids are inevitably exposed to more germs. With a busy schedule and a long list of daily responsibilities adding the many duties associated with caring for a sick child to your to-do list is not ideal. Here’s what you can do to help them beat the back-to-school germs and to ensure they stay healthy through the school year and beyond.
1. Get Serious About Hand Washing – When it comes to back-to-school time, and cold and flu season in general, it’s important to teach kids about the importance of washing their hands regularly. Make sure your kids know how to effectively wash their hands. They should always use soap and warm water and scrub all over — their palms, the back of their hands, around their fingernails and between their fingers — for at least 20 seconds.
2. Help Kids Maintain a Healthy Immune System – Make sure they exercise regularly and eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods, get enough sleep (between 8 and 13 hours a night, depending on their age) and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
3. Explain Germ Etiquette – Advise your kids to steer clear of seemingly sick children while they’re at school and in other communal settings. Parents should also teach their children to cover their own coughs and sneezes using a tissue or the nook of their elbow when tissues aren’t available.
Webster’s Community Pharmacy is located at 2450 North Lake Avenue, Altadena. Call (626) 797-1163 or visit http://www.AltadenaRx.com/ for more information.
