My neighbor told me something the other day that I found very interesting. No one in her family has gotten sick this year!

Our calls on 454-KIDS have been about "a little cold, sore throats and strep". Whole families have been stricken with vomiting and diarrhea. Our Answer Line phones have been very busy with calls about headaches, sore throats, muscle aches, congestion, coughs, high fevers and vomiting. This year the flu is hitting the United States in record numbers not seen in recent years.

I'd like to pass along some of the prevention tips the nurses share with callers on 454-KIDS, so that you and your family may be able to side-step some of this aching, draining and wheezing going around.

Cover that cough

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. When using a tissue, deposit it in a waste basket after use. If you don't have a tissue handy and need to cough or sneeze, do so into your upper sleeve, NOT your hands.

Wash your hands

Most people (hopefully) wash hands before meals and after using the restroom. But, don't forget that germs are rude and pushy, constantly hanging around, watching and waiting for an opportunity to invade.

Where are some of their favorite haunts? Germs can be found on shopping carts, door knobs, the pen at the cash register, or perhaps that five dollar bill handed to you at the fast food drive-through.

Now that you have the germs on your hands, does this meay you're doomed to illness? NO!

Germs need a way to get into your body. So, don't touch anything until you wash your hands. Sepcifically, germs enter the body by way of the mouth, eyes and nose.

The single most improtant element of illness prevention is good handwashing.

1. Use soap and running warm water, especially after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
2. Vigorously scrub hands together and work up a lather.
3. Get every nook and cranny, between fingers, tops of hands, wrists and under nails.
4. Every second counts, so scrub for at least 15-20 seconds. Sing a song while you wash!
5. Rinse, then dry with a clean, disposable towel.
6. Apply hand lotion, especially in the dry winter months.
7. Wash hands with an alcohol based hand cleanser when soap and water are not available.

Keep your distance

If you are in the presence of someone who is ill, keep your distance. Three feet is a good distance. The distance makes it harder for sneezes and coughs of another to reach you.

Hopefully, now you feel armed with information to avoid passing germs for the remainder of 'flu season'.

¶ 1:20 PM 0 comments