It’s the coldest time of the year, and you know what that means! Cold and flu season has come once again.

At Child Safety Store, it’s our goal to keep children safe. Often this comes in the form of avoiding injuries like falling down the stairs or alerting our readers about important recalls. Germs and bacteria can be just as dangerous. In today’s blog, let’s take a look at some tips that should hopefully help to prevent your kids from getting sick during the cold and flu season.

Avoid the Flu

Influenza, or “the flu,” infects thousands of children each year. In many ways, it is more dangerous than the common cold. In fact, if left untreated, it can even be fatal. This can put a large burden on the health and wellbeing of children and their families. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year, between 6,000 and 26,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized in the United States because of influenza. An annual influenza vaccination is the best method for preventing flu and its potentially severe complications in children.

This video from the CDC explains more about the flu.

Keeping Safe During Cold and Flu Season

Wash Up!

As we discussed in our blog post about choking prevention, kids love to put things in their mouths. They grab and touch all sorts of gross things during the day. That’s all in good fun, but it can lead to catching some nasty illnesses. That goes double during cold and flu season! Children should wash their hands (and face) frequently both at home and in school. This should be done before eating, after using the bathroom and generally any time they seem like they need it.

Share with Care

Sharing is a great habit for kids to learn, but it can also lead to an increased exposure to germs. During cold and flu season, parents should be especially wary of what their kids are sharing. If their friends are sick, their germs can easily be passed on. Nip this problem in the bud by teaching kids not to share drinks, candy, scarves and anything that can come into contact with a person’s face or mouth.

Get a Good Workout

Playing is fun and beneficial for little adventurers. Besides making kids stronger, it also provides a nice boost to their immune systems. During cold and flu season, moderate exercise could be the key to staving off infection.

Get to Bed!

Now that playtime is over, it’s time for bed! Kids need more sleep than adults. It’s true! On average, kids need between nine and 14 hours of sleep each and every day. The actual number of hours varies by age and individual, but the health benefits are real. With enough sleep, your children will be fully prepared to take on potential infections.

These are just a few tips to avoid becoming sick. Obviously, it’s not possible to stay completely safe. In the event that your child has a fever or simply feels under the weather, it’s important to visit the doctor. A licensed medical professional will give the best advice for your individual situation.

Good luck and stay healthy!