Healthy kids are happy kids. And, more than that, when children are healthy and at their best, they perform better in sports and academics and may even have improved behavior. According to leading research, more than 7.5 million children miss a month of school per year. Many of these absences are due to minor, preventable illnesses. When parents and schools work hard to prevent the spread of germs, children remain healthy. The following tips can help to keep children free of illness and functioning at their best:
- Teach effective hand washing.:The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assert that keeping hands clean with hand hygeine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs. School nurses across the country agree that when children wash their hands regularly and keep their hands away from eyes and mouths, the spreading of germs decreases.
- Enforce early bedtimes: When children do not get enough sleep, their immune systems may be compromised and they are more susceptible to illness.
- Keep students home when they are ill: Many students become sick after being exposed to germs from a student who should have remained at home until they were no longer contagious.
When parents and schools work together to create germ free environments for children, the benefits are endless. Urgent care centers are great resources for providing parents with additional preventative tools for keeping children healthy.
