Tips for Staying Healthy This School Year

It’s hard to believe the summer went by so quickly! Now that school has started, here are some tips to stay healthy for this school year.

Good Hygiene Tips to Teach Your Children:

• Wash hands for at least 20 seconds before eating, after using the toilet, after coughing and sneezing, and after touching potentially contaminated surfaces. Sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
• If soap and water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good option.
• When coughing or sneezing, use a tissue and dispose of it right away in trash. If tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into a bent elbow to minimize spread.

For Personal Cleanliness:

• Shower or bathe every day to prevent the buildup of dirt and bacteria on the skin.
• Brush teeth and floss every day to minimize bacteria buildup in the mouth.
• Keep nails trimmed and clean to prevent dirt and bacteria buildup.
• Avoid touching the face so as to not introduce viruses and bacteria through the eyes, nose or mouth.
• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like countertops, doorknobs and toys.

Reasons to Keep Your Child Home From School

• Fever: A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Vomiting or Diarrhea: Two or more episodes within 24 hours, or if they cannot control their bowels.
• Not Acting Like Themselves: If they seem tired or lethargic, or are not participating in their normal activities.
• Cough: A persistent or uncontrolled cough that might be disruptive to others.
• Other Symptoms: Ear pain, chest pain or abdominal pain.

When to Return to School

• Fever-Free: Your child should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
• No Vomiting or Diarrhea: When your child can eat solid food and at least 24 hours have passed since the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea.
• Participating in Activities: Your child is well enough to participate in normal classroom activities.

When to Seek Medical Advice

• A young baby (under 2 months old) has a fever.
• Your child has a high fever for more than five (5) days or an abnormal pattern of fever.
• Your child has trouble breathing or seems to be breathing fast, has a wheeze or croup.
• They have persistent vomiting and cannot keep liquids down.
• You notice a bloody or black stool, mucous in the stool, or more than 10 stools in 24 hours