Kids Are Back to School, and So Are Germs: 5 Ways to Keep Your Health Optimal in Maryland
As kids and parents say goodbye to the warmth and freedom of summer vacation, we slowly get ready to go back to school and sit inside the four walls of classrooms once again.
This is a very exciting time for kids who are looking forward to meeting new friends and discovering new things alongside their classmates. This can also be a very exciting time for parents who are ready to let their children explore the world on their own.
But as kids find their footing in a new environment, there is the unwelcome guest known as germs. With hundreds of kids huddled together in an environment of learning, it’s so easy to pass around germs and viruses even if just one kid comes to school with an infection.
What started as an exciting time may turn out to be a season of hospitalizations. This is why it’s crucial to take proactive measures to keep your child not only ready but also healthy for school.
MD Saw an Increase in Respiratory-Related Hospitalizations
The Maryland Department of Health reported a spike in the number of respiratory illness-related hospitalizations early this year. The respiratory illnesses that affected a great number of MD residents included COVID-19, flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
Experts relate the sudden onset of respiratory illnesses due to the 2023 holidays. As people return home from travels or spend more time with friends and family, the spread of germs and viruses has increased exponentially. This has caused intense strain on many hospitals across the state.
How this affects back-to-school season
While Maryland is currently past the concerning increase of respiratory illness-related hospitalizations, this can once again be a dangerous territory with back-to-school season on the horizon.
A classroom of unsuspecting schoolchildren makes them susceptible to the spread and passing around of germs and viruses that can potentially cause a variety of illnesses.
While children have a harder time grasping the idea of germs and the potential dangers of contracting viruses and passing them around to the rest of their friends, they are not totally defenseless - especially when parents like you take it into your own hands to take a proactive approach to keep your children safe from viruses and in optimal health for the coming school year.
How You Can Keep Your Kids Healthy for School
Contracting viruses while it is school season makes it very easy to pass them around from one kid to another. As you get your child ready to take on a new school year, let’s not forget to also get their defenses up so they can fight off germs and illnesses.
Here are 5 ways you can do to keep your kids healthy for school:
1. Teach them frequent handwashing
The most basic thing you can teach your kids to avoid respiratory-related illnesses is through frequent handwashing.
Help children form the healthy habit of washing their hands before and after eating, after going to the bathroom, and playing with shared toys or using shared items. Proper hand washing is at least 20 seconds. Make this fun by telling kids to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song from start to end twice.
Additionally, teach them to not touch their faces or mouths with unclean hands and to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
2. Refrain from sharing personal items
Saliva is a dangerous vessel from which germs and viruses can pass around and spread easily.
Teach children to never share personal items like water bottles or utensils. Items like toys that have been in the mouth of another kid should not be shared with other kids as well.
When you buy your kid personal items, make sure you label them and teach them to never lend them out to anyone else.
3. Get updated on vaccines
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that the best way to prevent a wide range of contagious diseases is through vaccination. Vaccines are essential for everyone—adults, teens, and young children alike.
Vaccines protect people of all ages, with younger patients being more vulnerable to severe complications from certain illnesses. Keeping up to date with vaccinations is your child's number one defense against preventable diseases.
Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about recommended vaccines and how they can help protect you and your family.
4. Know the symptoms of common respiratory illnesses
It would be a big help to know the symptoms of common respiratory illnesses so you can easily spot them.
COVID symptoms:
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Fatigue
Influenza symptoms:
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny and/or stuffy nose
- Fever and/or chills
- Headache
- Diarrhea and/or vomiting, usually in kids
RSV symptoms:
- Mild headache
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Inability to eat or drink well
5. Strengthen immunity and keep defenses up
Lastly, keep children’s defenses up against germs and viruses by strengthening their immune systems.
Put them in a healthy diet of proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables to give them the nutrients their developing bodies need. Instill in them the habit of drinking lots of water for hydration.
Getting enough sleep will also keep their bodies healthy inside and out:
- 3 to 5-year-old children should sleep 10 to 13 hours
- 6 to 12-year-old children should sleep 9 to 12 hours
- 13 to 18-year-old teens should sleep 8 to 10 hours
Conclusion: Get School Supplies Ready but Don’t Forget Kid’s Health
As the new school year starts, kids and parents alike get excited about meeting new people and learning new things. But before you send your kid off to school and learn the ways of the world, you should get and keep them in optimal health.
Teach your kids the dangers of germs and viruses so nothing could get in their way of learning and forming bonds.