School can be an amazing part of a young child’s life, but it also exposes them to germs in a way that significantly increases the number of patients in my waiting room come September and October. Cold and flu season is here.
As you prepare for the next season, there are a few steps we recommend to decrease illnesses in your household and improve your readiness should they arise.
Keep medications up to date
Now is a good time to restock common household medications. Over-the-counter medications, such as fever reducers (acetaminophen and ibuprofen) and antihistamines (diphenhydramine) expire, just as prescription medications do. Take an hour and do an inventory of all the medications you have in your home. Discard expired medications, reorder prescriptions that are nearly empty, and repurchase staple medications such as those for fever and pain so they are accessible when you need them. Place them in key, childproof locations. Consider buying doubles or triples of each — for school, babysitters, and grandparent homes.
Stay organized
Review the dosages in milliliters of all medications you have on hand for your children. Consider an itemized list of each medication with each child and the correct dose. Keep the dosage list organized with each set of medications in the event that someone unfamiliar with the dose is tasked with giving the medication.
Keep little hands clean on the go
Restock your home, car, and frequently used bags (purses, diaper bags) with wipes and alcohol-free hand sanitizers. Use them frequently. Remember to wash little hands before and immediately after school and always before eating. Hand washing is one of the biggest ways to decrease the transmission of infections at school and home.
Expect the unexpected
Have a plan for unexpected sick days. Children get sick at the most inopportune times; having a plan in place makes this just a tiny bit easier. Review your pediatrician’s office hours as well as where they want you to go if your child is sick after hours. Likewise review your school or daycare’s sick policy. Understand that if your child is sent home for illness, they are likely not allowed back the following day.
Protect against the flu
Have your family vaccinated against the flu. We cannot do much about the common cold but we can immunize against the flu. Infants 6 months and older can be immunized. Children aged 2 and older can receive the nasal flu spray. Parents and caregivers need their shots, too!
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