Back-to-School Means Battle Against Germs

It’s time to head back to school which means the petri dish of viruses and bacteria that we call a classroom is active. It’s actually good for our kids’ immune systems to have some exposure to germs, but it’s hard on parents to have sick kids.

Here are a few ways to battle against those germs and keep your family healthy this school-year.

• In school you learn your ABCs, at home teach your kids their CCCs.

Clean – Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently

Cover – Use your elbow to cover your cough and sneeze

Contain – Contain your germs by staying at home if you are sick

• Make sure everyone in your family who is six months or older receives an annual flu shot. An injectable vaccine is approved for anyone six months or older. A nasal-spray flu vaccine can be used for healthy people between the ages of 2-49 who are not pregnant.

• If you have a newborn at home who has older siblings in school, make sure the older kids wash their hands when they get home from school. You also may want to consider having them change their clothes when they get home and before holding the baby.