With the world in fear of germs and contamination right now, not many people are thinking about the upcoming flu season. It is important to find ways to keep you and your kids flu-free during the pending fall season.
There are a few methods that are effective in helping children and adults alike to fend off influenza and prevent the spread of the flu virus during the upcoming cooler months.
How To Keep Your Kids Flu-Free This Fall?
Get Your Flu Shot Early
A new flu strain makes its rounds every year. This is why a new flu vaccine is released annually. If you got the shot last year, you will still need to get one this year along with the rest of your family.
Getting your flu shot early will help you reduce the chance of catching the flu or spreading it to others who may be at higher risk due to certain medical conditions. You can speak with your children’s pediatrician or you can visit any of the clinics that offer the influenza vaccine in your area.
Practice Proper Handwashing
According to the Centers for Disease Control, proper hand washing is a simple way to keep your kids flu-free. In fact, washing your hands is one of the first lessons young children learn at home. No matter how well you may have taught your child to wash, if they are forgetting to follow through or not washing long enough, they still may get sick.
When Should Kids Be Washing Their Hands?
Make sure your child understands that they need to wash their hands each time they sneeze, blow their nose, or cough. They should also wash their hands when coming in from outside and before each meal. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies, it is critical that they practice proper hand-washing techniques.
With Covid-19 continuing to be a public health concern in the United States, it is not only important to wash your hands to prevent the flu, but also to reduce the chance of contracting or spreading coronavirus from person to person. Hand hygiene will be crucial in disease control and prevention. This important action can help people avert hospitalizations and death due to coronavirus and influenza.
Avoid Hand Dryers
Touchless hand dryers seem like a good way to reduce the spread of germs, but according to research, they are one of the worst ways germs spread. Not only is the hot air harsh on the skin, but the forced air spreads bacteria and germs left on the hands around the entire space of the bathroom.
In fact, air dryers often push germs directly into children’s faces while drying their hands putting them at high risk. A better option is to have them wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, followed by a disposable paper towel to dry them completely.
Reduce Sugary Drinks
Excessive sugar leads to obstruction in the nasal cavities. If you have a runny or stuffy nose, extra sugar will make it worse. Reduce sugar and irrigate the passages with a saline solution instead. If you use one that contains xylitol, it will reduce the ability of viruses, bacteria, and other irritants to stick to the mucosa.
Reduce Their Dairy Intake
A lot of parents will give their children hot milk when they are starting to get sick, but this is the opposite of what you actually should do. When you notice your child getting congested or developing a runny nose, limiting their dairy intake can help ease congestion.
Milk increases the amount and thickness of mucus in the body. Consuming dairy while you have an illness developing can make coughs worse and even increase the post-nasal drop. After your child gets better you can resume their regular diet of dairy.
Cover Your Mouth
Covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough is important. It is also critical to cover correctly. Using your hands to shield your mouth spreads germs because most people don’t wash their hands right after expelling germs.
To keep you kids flu-free, teach your children to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow instead. No matter how they cover their mouth, it is a good idea to follow up with proper hand washing afterward.
Don’t Share Germs
Sharing toys is good, but during flu season, it’s best to avoid sharing to keep your kids from getting the flu. Toys and common surfaces are a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and germs. Sharing your things with your friends can easily lead to sharing germs that can make you sick. If you are in fact sick, STAY HOME.
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Disclaimer
The information contained on this webpage is for educational purposes as well as to provide general information and general understanding of the pertinent medical issue only, not to provide a specific diagnosis. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. By using this blog/web site you understand there is no doctor patient relationship between you and the blog/web site publisher. The information included on this site should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a licensed medical professional in your state. Neither Urgent Care Network, its subsidiaries, affiliates, assignees or successors in interest, nor any other party assume liability for loss or damage due to reliance on content of this blog/web site. If you are experiencing a severe medical issue, you should seek emergency assistance immediately.
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