With the holiday season fast approaching, everyone seems to be spending more time indoors. The good news is...more quality time together...the bad news...we're spreading more than love...we're also spreading germs! On average, a person comes into contact with about 300 surfaces every 30 minutes exposing themselves to 840,000 germs! No need to hit the panic button and make everyone wear a mask. Take some simple precautions to help keep your family healthy during the sick season. Yes, hand washing is obvious but I can not stress this enough. 80% of infectious diseases are spread by touch so good hand hygiene can prevent germs from spreading. For hand washing to be effective, have your child wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds...that is about how long it takes to sing happy birthday. Parents, you have to wash you hands too! I know you want to do everything you can to get rid of germs by wiping down surfaces that your sick child has touched and you should! But if you forget to wash your hands and then go make lunch for your healthy child...now you have 2 sick kids! Don't forget to toss your tissues! Germs linger and if someone picks up a used tissue, they may be the next one to get sick. 1 in 3 people do not wash their hands after sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose. So if you're traveling during the holidays, you may want keep a package of wipes handy. Keep in mind that your child may be sick and contagious before they have any symptoms. Once you notice a sniffle or cough, it may be too late. Here's to a healthy holiday season!I'm Dr. Sue with TKD helping parents take charge!
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