Protecting Your Family From the Flu

With colder temperatures, comes the holiday season, a new year, and of course, flu season!

In the United States, flu season runs from October to May, most cases happening between December and early March. 

The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu like symptoms usually are more severe that the typical sneezing and stuffiness of a cold. Some symptoms include: fever, body aches, chills, headache, sore throat and a runny nose. 

There's no guaranteed way--including being vaccinated--to have 100% protection from flu. There are steps that you can take right now to protect yourself and your loved ones from getting the flu. 

Wash Your Hands

Here's how to scrub those germs away. Teach this routine to your kids — or better yet, wash your hands together often so they learn how important this good habit is:

1. Wash your hands in warm water. Make sure the water isn't too hot for little hands.
2. Use soap and lather up for about 20 seconds (antibacterial soap isn't necessary — any soap will do). Make sure you get in between the fingers and under the nails where germs like to hang out. And don't forget the wrists!
3. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.

To minimize the germs passed around your family, make regular hand washing a rule for everyone, especially:

• before eating and cooking
• after using the bathroom
• after cleaning around the house
• after touching animals, including family pets
• before and after visiting or taking care of any sick friends or relatives
• after blowing one's nose, coughing, or sneezing
• after being outside (playing, gardening, walking the dog, etc.)

Don't underestimate the power of hand washing! The few seconds you spend at the sink could save you trips to the doctor's office.

Getting the recommended hours of sleep and eating healthy food choices are also two great ways to help prevent sickness this flu season.

For more information about the flu and how to prevent it, please visit kidshealth.org and cdc.gov 

For more information about our program, please visit academyofchilddevelopment.com