Tips To Avoid The Flu Bug

Along with chilly days, snowmen and snow angels, and perhaps a few school cancellations, comes the dreaded flu season. Yes, the flu season is upon us. It stretches from November to April with the peak period beginning around the holidays and lasting until about spring break. So now that flu season has arrived, what is the best way to escape this unwanted viral infection along with its annoying symptoms?

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated every year. It can reduce the average person's chances of getting the flu significantly during flu season. One child health and medical website stated that receiving a flu vaccine can reduce the chances of getting the flu by up to 80%. Early fall is the ideal time to get the vaccine before the flu season is in full force. This gives the body time to build up immunity. But it is not too late to get your child vaccinated even now because there are still two to three months left of the flu season. This year the flu vaccine also includes H1N1 so your children will be protected against that, too.

Below are other prevention measures that we all can teach our children and practice ourselves:

• Wash your hands! Good hand washing is the first line of defense against spreading germs. Kids are inquisitive by nature. They love to explore and touch things, making them more vulnerable to picking up germs. Let's face it, kids are not the best hand washers, so we must teach them how to wash their hands thoroughly and constantly remind them to do so.
• Teach children to never pick up used tissues.
• Tell children to never share cups and eating utensils.
• Demonstrate to children how to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing. Instruct children to cough and sneeze into upper sleeve if a tissue is unavailable.
• Explain to children that they should always avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching contaminated surfaces.

While all of these measures will reduce the chance of getting the flu, there are no absolute guarantees. If your child does become ill with the flu, you can help us minimize the spread by keeping your child home until he/she has been symptom-free for a full day.

Here’s to a healthy and happy new year!

About The Author: Nancy Fuhrer is a nurse at Sewickley Academy. This blog post originally appeared on the Sewickley Academy blog.