Preventing Flu

Although both the flu and the common cold can cause congestion, sore throat, and sneezing, the flu is a much more serious condition. Your child is likely to run a high fever and suffer from headaches, fatigue, muscular aches and pains, and even diarrhea and vomiting.

A severe case of flu can even lead to life-threatening complications like pneumonia, and with infants and young children considered at high risk of complications, it definitely pays to take some preventive measures.

Since the flue virus spreads when you either inhale infected droplets in the air or come in direct contact with an infected person’s secretions, simple hygiene habits can go a long way to help prevent the flu. Here are some tips to prevent the flu.


1. Teach kids to wash their hands for 20 seconds.

Frequent and proper hand washing with soap is one of the best ways to prevent many common infections. Teach your kids the right way to wash their hands – using soap with long lasting germ protection, they should scrub the back and front (palms) of their hands, and to clean around and between every finger and under every fingernail. Tell your kids to take their time – have them sing “Happy Birthday” twice, which is equivalent to about 20 seconds, and keep on scrubbing until the song is finished.


2. Cover their noses when coughing and sneezing.

Proper coughing and sneezing etiquette should also be observed. Remind your kids to always cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze or cough and provide them with tissues that they can use when they need to blow their nose.


3. Disinfect your surroundings.

Keeping your surroundings clean is also important to ensure that germs don’t spread around the home. Disinfect common areas with a bleach solution – pay particular attention to your kitchen, which can be a hotspot for food-borne pathogens and your bathroom, as damp surfaces are breeding grounds for germs.


4. Proper Diet and Exercise

Finally, take good care of your child’s health. To help strengthen their immune system and making them less susceptible to infections, load up on fruits and vegetables which are packed with vitamins and antioxidants. Make sure your kids get enough sleep – around 10 to 12 hours is the norm.

Finally, regular cardiovascular exercise also boosts their immune system, so make it a habit to take walks or play sports with them to keep fit.