Germs are easily spread to the masses, and children are notorious as carriers. There are many preventive measures that parents can teach their children to keep them on the good side of health.
Forming good habits in hygiene as a youngster will transition into adulthood, helping your family and community stay ahead of many diseases.
Teach good hand-washing skills and when to use them.
A good length of time is at least 20 seconds… approximately the same amount of time it takes to sing the happy birthday song. It is important to use soap, continually rub your soapy hands under the running water, and for the best results, dry them with a cloth or paper towel. Wash hands:
- If you sneeze or cough into your hands.
- After using the restroom.
- Before handling food or eating.
- After playing with pets or animals.
- After touching handrails or other highly used public features.
The best way to cover a sneeze or cough
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Then promptly throw it in the trash. However, when a tissue is not handy, the second option is to bury your face in the bend of your arm; also known as the Dracula move. Both methods are intended to minimize the spread of germs. If you happen to sneeze or cough into your hands, wash them quickly and don’t touch anything until you do. Always use a tissue to wipe or blow your nose.
Child Safety Tips from Your Kids Doctors
To minimize the need for pediatric urgent care, instill basic health and safety behaviors in your children when they are young.
- Seat belt safety is life-saving. Children don’t understand that wearing a seat belt or being strapped into a car seat is required by law. They are capable of understanding that it is for their safety. Teach them to stay buckled up.
- Bike and safety helmets save brains. Traumatic brain injury can lead to a life of major challenges for a child. Protect their brains. No helmet equals no skating, no skateboarding, no biking, no fun. A good rule of thumb–if the pros wear it (for safety), so should you.
- Sleep is not just for beauty. A child’s body and brain need lots of rest to refresh, heal, and regenerate. Specify the importance of a good night’s sleep as essential to growing up strong and healthy.
