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September 2, 2024
It’s that time of the year again…back to school! While you might be excited to send your kids back and get a well-deserved break, they might be coming home sooner than you think with germs spreading in the classroom. While it is perfectly normal for your child to get a case of the sniffles when school starts up again, there are ways to prevent this from happening so frequently. Today I have compiled a list of some ways that you can protect and prevent your child from bringing home all those germs they are exposed to at school every day.
The best way…wash your hands!!
The most effective way for your child to avoid catching illnesses is to wash their hands frequently. Your child will come into contact with contagious germs touching desks, door handles, pencils, and more. They should wash their hands before making contact with their faces like when eating or drinking or simply scratching an itch.
But while this might seem simple, a lot of kids are not washing their hands properly. It is crucial that your child washes their hands for a long enough time and effectively to scrub off all those germs. They should:
- scrub the front and back of their hands with soap and water
- scrub for at least 20 seconds
- or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water are not accessible
Stay up to date with vaccinations
Just like germs, preventable viruses can spread around the classroom very quickly. It is important that your child has all their updated vaccines and boosters. Not sure what vaccines your child should have? Here is a list of vaccines by age group.
Ages 4-6
- MMR – protects against measles, mumps, and rubella
- DTaP – protects against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis
- IPV – protects against inactivated poliovirus
Ages 9-12
- HPV – protects against human papillomavirus
Ages 11-12
- Meningococcal
- Tdap booster – protects against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis
Age 16
- Meningococcal
It is also important to schedule your child’s influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, both of which can easily spread at school.
It is just as easy for other children to spread illness to your child as it is for your child to spread illness to other children. It is important that you keep your child home from school if they are sick to limit the spread. If you are concerned that your child is getting sick frequently, consult your child’s pediatrician for a check-up to express your concerns.