TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTY
With the cold and flu season starting and the prediction of a big flu season, here are some tips to help keep our kids and you healthy.
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Make sure your child eats breakfast.
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Stick to the “5” a day rule. Everyone should eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Eating a well balanced diet is always important. Recommended servings are 5-9 a day.
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Exercise is an important component to staying healthy. 30-60 minutes a day is recommended. You can exercise as a family like walking, playing football or playing in the snow. Remember to dress appropriately for the weather.
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Get children to bed on time. Pre-K through 1st grade children need at least 10 hours of sleep every night. All others need at least 8 –10 hours. These should be consistent bedtime hours even on weekends.
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Make sure your child drinks at least 8 glasses of water daily. Pop does not count and should be limited.
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Encourage children to wash their hands well and frequently, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. Viruses are spread from one to another primarily through hand contact, sharing toys, pencils and other items. Here is how most of the grade school students are taught: get hands wet with warm water, apply a quarter-size dollop of soap and start scrubbing vigorously all areas of the hands and wrists lasting at least 15 seconds. Don’t be surprised if they sing a song while scrubbing! Handwashing is the first line of defense against the spread of colds and flu.
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If your child is vomiting, this is not the flu. The flu or influenza is a respiratory and overall body aching illness lasting 3-7 days or longer. When vomiting occurs, this is called gastroenteritis caused by another virus or food borne illness. Below is a description of the differences between the cold and influenza.
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IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK, PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME SO THEY DON’T SPREAD THEIR ILLNESS TO OTHER STUDENTS AND STAFF.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COLD & FLU (INFLUENZA)
Symptom |
Cold |
Flu |
Fever |
Rare |
Common |
Headache |
Rare |
Prominent |
Aches/Pain |
Slight |
Usual and Often severe |
Fatigue/ Weakness |
Mild |
Pronounce |
Extreme Exhaustion |
Never |
Early and Prominent |
Stuffy Nose |
Common |
Sometimes |
Sneezing |
Usual |
Sometimes |
Sore Throat |
Common |
Sometimes |
Chest/Cough |
Mild/Moderate |
Common and Often severe |
Most colds last about 7-10 days. The child usually feels the worst the first couple of days. If your child continually gets worse they may have a bacterial infection. Treatment of the flu or influenza is pretty basic. There are several anti-viral medications to treat influenza but they need to be administered within the first couple days of symptoms. Home treatment: rest, pain reliever (no aspirin) and fluids are the most important. A cool air vaporizer is recommended to put humidity into the air. If complications occur, go to the emergency room. Possible complications include bronchitis, encephalitis, and pneumonia to name a few.
Any questions please call Karen Reilly, R.N. 326-3780.
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