Flu Prevention at its Best
Staying well this winter may be easier than you think. You don't have to hide indoors or avoid going out in public places. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that regardless of your child's age, one of the most important disease prevention steps you can take is to teach her proper hand washing technique and make sure that she regularly visits the sink.
Stop Germs in their Tracks
The fact is that most germs are transmitted by touching someone who's sick or by touching a surface that he's touched recently. Germs that cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness can linger on common places like doorknobs, sink faucets, phones, television remotes, seats, tables and countertops. This makes it easy for them to be passed from person to person. And this is a concern in your own home, as well as at school and out in other public places.
That's why it's never too soon to start teaching your child good hygiene. Help your little one practice proper hand washing technique after using the bathroom, as well as following touching surfaces in public places, petting animals, blowing her nose or coughing. She should also wash her hands before eating or touching her mouth, nose or eyes.
Proper Hand Washing Technique
To be sure your child gets the true benefit of illness prevention, it's essential to check her hand washing technique and make sure it's thorough and fully effective.
Please review the following essential steps.
- Make sure your child uses warm water and soap. (Just be careful that the water isn't too hot for her age.)
- Supervise her to be sure she does a thorough job. A good rule of thumb is for the washing to last long enough for her to be able to repeat the alphabet or count to 20 slowly.
- Teach her to wash between her fingers and underneath her nails and even up her wrists, since all of these areas are places where germs can lurk and require extra attention.
- Have her pat her hands dry on a clean towel.
- Wash your own hands alongside your child to demonstrate what you mean.
- When water isn't available, opt for an instant hand-sanitizer instead.
- Explain why hand washing is so important to prevent the spread of illness. When your child understands the goal, it may help her want to practice this often and help keep herself well.
Be Protective
Ensure that your child also practices other crucial steps to avoid infectious diseases from spreading. This includes getting a flu shot each year, getting enough sleep and eating well. She should also stay home when she has any symptoms of illness and cover her nose and mouth when she coughs or sneezes to avoid spreading her germs in your house.
Sources:
Columbus Public Health
Henry the Hand
http://www.henrythehand.com/pages/content/hwaw.html
Kids Health/Nemours
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/sick/hand_washing.html#
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/2009-10/pdf/handwashing.pdf
