With the school year in full swing and H1N1 is making its mark, it is time to think about germs again. With greater contact along with the change of weather, colds and flus show up again. Believe it or not, viruses and bacteria can live up to 2 hours or longer on surfaces such as cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks. But, there are many ways to prevent germs from spreading to your household too often.1. Advise your children to avoid close contact with those who appear sick.
2. If your children are sick, keep them home. They will feel better faster and you will not spread the infection. This is especially important with the spread of H1N1 since it seems to be contagious a lot longer than seasonal flu.
3. Teach your children to cough and sneeze into their elbows instead of into their hands. This will avoid spreading germs by hand contact.
4. Model effective and frequent hand washing - wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.
5. Have hand sanitizers available when washing is not possible. Keep them in your car, in your purse and in the sports bag. If your children have been playing soccer, gymnastics or any other after school sport and need a snack once in the car, you will need hand sanitizers first!
6. Teach your children to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth since these areas lead to the quick spread of germs.
Although flu vaccines are in short supply, call your healthcare provider to see if they have vaccines available, especially for your children who are considered high risk.
For more information, contact your healthcare provider and see the CDC web site for seasonal flu and H1N1 info.
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