Keeping Children Healthy This Winter

On November 1, 2005 President Bush unveiled a 7 billion dollar strategy to prepare for the danger of the bird flu; I am revealing my totally affordable strategy to keep my children healthy this winter. I plan to do so by keeping germs at bay. The best plan you can have is an offensive plan.

1. Flu Shots
Last winter the influenza virus arrived at our household in the middle of winter. The entire household got sick running temperatures of 104F+; parents included. It was a miserable experience considering this was during the dismal dreary days of winter. Our family’s bout with the flu virus included a trip to the ER and a three day stay at the hospital for the youngest (only 2 weeks old at the time). This year our household includes two elderly residents and we are taking no chances. The CDC recommends that anyone who wants to avoid getting the flu should get the vaccine; everyone in this house is getting the flu shot. There is a lot of negative press about immunizations out there but I will take my chances; shots are much cheaper than the cost of being sick.

2. Washing Hands
After interrogating the kids about their hygiene habits at school, it became painfully apparent that most children do not wash their hands before meals at the school. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently can keep diseases from spreading.

Hands will be washed several times when preparing foods, after changing diapers (babies hands will be washed too), when anyone walks in from the outside especially from a store or school, before and after meals and whenever hands are dirty. The proper technique of washing hands will be reiterated:
• Wet hands using warm water
• Use soap and lather up
• Rub hands together rubbing the soap between your fingers and up to your wrists. This should be done for at least 20 seconds
• Rinse off the soap thoroughly
• Dry hands
Nails will be kept short to avoid being the breeding ground of germs. Hand sanitizers or bacterial wipes will be supplied for the children’s lockers and will be placed in the family vehicles.