Germs Germs. Go Away

Whether you're running errands or attending a playdate, public places can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Here are a few simple steps to help keep those pesky germs at bay and put your family on the road to a sickness-free season.

CONSTANT HAND-WASHING

Hand-washing should always be top-of-mind since it is. This is especially important during flu season which occurs between November and March. About 80 percent of communicable diseases are transferred by touch and, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), proper hand washing can reduce the chances of people getting sick by roughly 25 percent.

Proper hand washing:

1. Wet hands with warm running water.
2. Later soap by rubbing hands together. Make sure to get the backs of hands, between fingers and under the nails.
3. Scrub hands for 20 seconds. Have kids sing “Happy Birthday” or the alphabet twice from beginning to end.
4. Rinse well under clean, running water.
5. Dry using a paper towel, or simply air dry.
   
   

LOAD UP ON WIPES AND SANITIZERS

Clean up tables and chairs at restaurants, dropped utensils, and car seats using anti-bacterial wipes. Sanitizer is also great for disinfecting hands. Cover the entire hand including the fingers and nails.

BRING UTENSILS

Bring utensils to eat berries and cut-up pieces of sandwich or apple, or pack granola or fruit bars that come in paper/plastic wrapping. And, if one child has a cold, pack separate snacks so there’s no need to share and transfer germs.

MINIMIZE NAIL-BITING AND FACE-TOUCHING

Hands are germ factories, so you want to help keep little fingers away from noses and mouths. For food on the face, use skin-friendly baby wipes or makeup remover cloths, which remove the mess without drying out skin.