Back-to-School Health - Avoid Swine Flu
By Kara Sibilia
1. VACCINATE: Get children from 6 months-5 years of age vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines become available (around mid-October). People who care for a child younger than 6 months old and women who are pregnant also should be vaccinated. Go to www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm for more information about the flu vaccine.
2. WASH HANDS: A simple yet important precaution is to practice good hand hygiene. Make sure children wash their hands routinely for 20 seconds each time — about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
3. COVER UP: Shield your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands. Teach your children how to do this.
4. DISINFECT: Routinely clean surfaces and items that children frequently touch with their hands or mouths, or that come in contact with their body fluids.
5. VISIT THE DOCTOR: Get medical care immediately if your child gets sick. Children with flu-like illness should stay home from school until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius measured by mouth) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating).
6. UPDATE INFORMATION: Make sure the school nurses/teachers are up to date on your child's special needs (allergies, asthma, etc.). Also update emergency contact information so the school can contact you quickly to pick up your sick child.
Sources: www.flu.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.webmd.com
Kara Sibilia, mother of one, is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. To contact Kara, please email kara_sibilia@yahoo.com.
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Back-to-school doesn't have to mean back to being sick. Schools and parents alike are on high alert since predictions that infections from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) will increase in the coming months. Parents are the first line of defense in keeping their children safe and healthy. This checklist can help protect your children as they head back to school this fall: |
1. VACCINATE: Get children from 6 months-5 years of age vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines become available (around mid-October). People who care for a child younger than 6 months old and women who are pregnant also should be vaccinated. Go to www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm for more information about the flu vaccine.
2. WASH HANDS: A simple yet important precaution is to practice good hand hygiene. Make sure children wash their hands routinely for 20 seconds each time — about the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
3. COVER UP: Shield your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands. Teach your children how to do this.
4. DISINFECT: Routinely clean surfaces and items that children frequently touch with their hands or mouths, or that come in contact with their body fluids.
5. VISIT THE DOCTOR: Get medical care immediately if your child gets sick. Children with flu-like illness should stay home from school until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius measured by mouth) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating).
6. UPDATE INFORMATION: Make sure the school nurses/teachers are up to date on your child's special needs (allergies, asthma, etc.). Also update emergency contact information so the school can contact you quickly to pick up your sick child.
Sources: www.flu.gov, www.cdc.gov, www.webmd.com
Kara Sibilia, mother of one, is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. To contact Kara, please email kara_sibilia@yahoo.com.
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