Swine flu fear is back! You missed it didn’t you? The CDC released a report this week saying that N1H1 could claim almost 100,000 American lives, many of which will be children, this upcoming flu season. With kids going back to the germ filled petri-dish that is school, we should all prepare for the potential illness that they could bring home. The Today Show put together a back to school swine flu survival checklist all of which are easy and will hopefully cut down on spread of those icky swine flu germs. Check out the list here:
Good Hand Washing
The number one and most important tip. Wash hands. Wash hands. Rinse. Repeat. Hand washing drastically cuts down on germs and is your best defense. You may also arm your child with wipes or hand sanitizer gel if they aren’t able to get to a sink as much as you’d like.
Don’t Share
Yes, you should teach them to share their toys, books and balls. But advise them not to share items that come in direct contact with their mouth such as cups, utensils, and toothbrushes.
Check Your Child’s Temperature
If your child feels warm or hot, make sure to verify it. If your child has a fever – keep them home. Self quarantine will be important to stop the spread of the germs.
Stay Home
If your kid is sick, do not send your child to school. Yes, you may have deadlines, work to do or other issues but it is advised to keep your child home at least 72 hours after the fever is gone. Although there is yet to be an official timeline of how long to stay home, three days is the recommended minimum.
Get Vaccinated
A vaccination is being worked on but most won’t be able to get access until Thanksgiving.
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