Back to school: Staying healthy and well

With the opening of school and the beginning of the influenza season happening right around the same time, it means many families are being exposed to more germs during this time of year. But there are many easy things children and their parents can do to help ward off colds and the flu.One of the most important ways to keep healthy this fall and winter is to get the flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended for everyone six months old and older. It is especially important for pregnant women and seniors to be vaccinated against influenza. Each year, up to 20 percent of the population of the United States comes down with influenza and around 200,000 people are hospitalized with complications. The flu can lead to death for people with compromised immune systems, so it’s important to get vaccinated each and every year. Importance of diet While getting vaccinated against influenza is important, there are many other things you can do to fight off illness. A good place to start is your refrigerator. Many of the foods we should be eating on a daily basis naturally help boost our immune systems. So don’t skip that glass of orange juice in the morning (it’s filled with vitamin C), help yourself to a snack of almonds (they contain vitamin E) and make sure you get enough fruits and vegetables. Garlic has also been shown to help the body ward off illness, so don’t be afraid of a little garlic breath in the name of staying healthy.Another way to fight off colds and the flu is something we should be doing year round, but especially at this time of year, and that is staying well-hydrated. Students who participate in sports need to be especially careful to replenish their fluids. Keeping your body hydrated helps it operate at its best. Keep those hands clean If you have young children, you are probably focusing on teaching them good hand-washing techniques, but it’s important that everyone in the family use them. Keeping your hands clean helps keep germs from getting into our bodies through our nose or mouth. Dipping your hands under the water won’t do it; you need to use a good amount of soap and vigorously wash them for at least 15 seconds. An easy way to make sure you’re washing long enough is to wash for the amount of time it takes to sing or hum one chorus of “Happy Birthday.” And make sure to dry your hands after washing. Following these steps for hand washing has been shown to reduce bacteria by about 90 percent.When you’re at school or out and about, it can be difficult to get to a bathroom to properly wash your hands. This is where wipes and hand sanitizers can help. While they shouldn’t take the place of proper hand washing, they are handy for when you’re not able to. So throw some wipes into your child’s backpack, donate a bottle of hand sanitizer for his or her classroom and keep a bottle in your car and purse. And use a wipe (and ask school staff to use them) on things that are shared among students, such as computer keyboards. Having access to hand sanitizer will reduce the germs getting passed around.Around the house, you can reduce the risk of illness getting passed between family members with similar practices. Keep toothbrushes from touching one another, wipe down countertops and computer keyboards and don’t share drinking glasses or silverware. Many daycares put toys in the dishwasher to sanitize them — a great idea especially after hosting a play date or while your family is getting over an illness.Eating well, drinking enough water, washing your hands properly, trying to limit the spread of germs and even getting the influenza vaccine will not guarantee you will not get sick in the months ahead, but they go a long way toward keeping you and your family healthy. Patricia Tremblay, RN, MS, is executive director of the Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association. To learn more, go to www.salisburyvna.org or call 860-435-0816.