Tips Helping Kids Avoid Flu This Fall

It’s that time of the year. Flu season is upon us! Every parent dreads their child getting sick and everything that goes along with it. This includes, not eating or sleeping well, missing days of school, and parents missing work. It may even require a visit to the doctor for medical attention. Here are some tips for helping kids avoid the flu this fall.

Tips Helping Kids Avoid Flu This Fall in Omaha & Bellevue, NE

Follow these doctor-recommended tips for your best chance of avoiding the flu this season:

Wash hands frequently

Bacteria and viruses expose your child daily at daycare, school, and home. Whether it’s through a favorite shared preschool toy, a bathroom faucet, or a doorknob, exposure to viruses can happen quickly. The best defense is simply using soap and water to clean and disinfect hands after playing outside, before meals and snacks, after bathroom visits, and after petting animals.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends at least 10-15 seconds of hand scrubbing during each hand wash.

If soap and water are not available be sure to use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to help prevent the spread of germs.

Get a flu shot

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get an annual flu vaccine. Be sure to follow your pediatrician’s recommendation. October is the best time to get your flu shot to provide optimal protection against this season’s main influenza strains.

The side effects of the shot are usually minimal but can greatly outweigh the complications from the flu. Be sure to check with your doctor before getting a flu shot if you have a compromised immune system or are at a high risk due to other conditions.

How Much Will I Expect To Pay?

Urgent Care Omaha clinics’ price is $40 cash payment, but be sure to check your insurance policy as many plans offer free shots as part of their coverage.

Cover Your Sneeze or Cough

Avoid spreading the flu virus and teach your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue. If a tissue isn’t available, use your elbow. Kids shouldn’t cough or sneeze into their hands as this only spreads germs more easily.

Teach young kids how to blow their noses

Teach young children to use a tissue instead of putting their fingers in their noses. Throw away tissues immediately after each use, and avoid touching your face.

Drink more water

Staying hydrated can help your body fight viruses. Water is essential when a child has a fever. Our bodies lose water through sweating and need more water when we have a fever because our metabolism increases.

Drinking plenty of water also helps to keep mucous thin. This will make it easier to cough up or blow mucous from the nose and decrease symptoms of the flu. Staying hydrated can help your body fight viruses.

Disinfect your house

No one enjoys scrubbing countertops and toilets, but doing so can reduce the number of germs in your house. Be sure you are disinfecting toys and household surfaces, especially kitchens, bathrooms and high-touch areas.

Avoid people who are sick

This seems obvious, but it might be necessary to “quarantine” household members who become sick. This can help to avoid spreading the influenza virus to others in the house, especially young children.

A Good Night’s Sleep Is Important

Studies show that poor sleepers became sick more often. Ensure your child gets the recommended hours of sleep (eight hours or more) each night.

Additional Reading: Influenza (Flu) in Children – Johns Hopkins Medicine

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