Protect Kids Against Flu This Season
This year, parents and kids should work hard to reduce their risk of contracting the H1N1 virus or Swine Flu. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus continued to cause illness, hospitalizations and even death in the US during the normally flu-free summer months. On August 19, The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said it would soon start two vaccine trials in children from 6 months to 17 years old, but even if a vaccine isn't available before school starts, there are steps you can take to minimize risk to your child. Good hygiene is a first line of defense. Good hand-washing practices are paramount: kids should wash their hands before every meal or snack, and use tissues to cover coughs. On Aug. 7, CDC advised schools to set aside a room for people developing flu-like symptoms while they wait to go home, and that surgical masks be used for ill students or staff and those caring for them. Any child who has been sick should be fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of medications) before returning to school. Children should also be vaccinated for seasonal flu as soon as vaccine is available.