Welcome to the new year, and welcome to flu season. As you already know, the 2017-2018 flu season is among the worst we have seen in quite some time. If you have a child who is enrolled in a preschool program or attends a daycare center in Fremont such as Palm Academy, then your household is even more likely to get sick during this flu season. There is no hiding the fact that our kids are much more susceptible to catching a virus and sharing their germs with the rest of their families. Our Fremont daycare center and preschool takes every necessary precaution to prevent the spread of germs and viruses, but that doesn’t stop the spread of sickness while you’re home.

Palm Academy’s daycare center in Fremont wants to make sure you and your family stay healthy all year long, especially during this year’s relentless flu season. We have prepared several quick tips to help flu proof your home so your little ones can learn, grow, and enjoy every minute at Palm Academy and at home.

Get Vaccinated

The single most important thing you can do to prevent getting the flu is to get vaccinated, according to health experts. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highly recommends anyone that is six months and older get the flu vaccination. The best time of year for the flu shot is during the fall, before the virus takes over. Even though we are already into February, it’s not too late to get yourself and your family vaccinated. Do you have little ones that absolutely hate shots and you’ve found it easier to avoid the subject altogether? That is no longer an excuse, because a nasal spray vaccine is available for anyone ages 2-49 years old.

Cover Your Mouth

This may seem fairly obvious, but it’s surprising to hear (and see) adults coughing and sneezing without covering their mouths. Teach your children the same habit, by covering their mouths with a tissue or direct it into their arms, rather than directly into their hands. The flu is most commonly spread airborne whenever a virus carrier sneezes or coughs.

Wash Your Hands

Another seemingly obvious hygiene practice, especially for us adults, is to wash our hands. But how can we be proper hygiene examples to our children if we don’t practice them ourselves? Always wash your hands after using the restroom and prior to any meal or snack. Better yet, wash your hands as often as possible by washing them under running warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers whenever a sink isn’t nearby to keep germs at bay.

Avoid Contact With Individuals Who Are Ill

Even if you are taking any and all precautionary measures to prevent the flu, someone in your family may still catch it. That shows just how persistent the flu virus is. In the event that your spouse, you, or your children become ill, it’s important to keep contact with that person at a minimum. Do other parents a favor and keep your child home from school and tucked in their own beds. A person can be contagious for up to seven days after they first show symptoms, and it’s important to keep a safe distance from them during this time. If one of your kids is sick and they share rooms with their sibling(s), it might be best to change sleeping arrangements during this time.

Clean Your Home Regularly

Now that you are in the habit of washing your hands as often as possible, you should also disinfect your home as often as you can. Be sure to effectively wipe down the everyday items, like doorknobs, remote controls, cabinets and drawers, and refrigerator doors. If you have a sick person at home, you will also need to wash their laundry in hot water to ensure that the germs have been killed.

Get Into Good Habits

Living a healthy lifestyle is another way to prevent getting sick. Although even the most healthy people will still get sick, their symptoms may not be as intense and could experience a shorter downtime. Encourage healthy habits like getting plenty of sleep, eating nutritious foods, drinking a lot of water, and getting daily exercise.

Palm Academy knows the importance of keeping your family healthy and we strive to maintain a clean, germ-free facility for your children to avoid getting sick.

If you are seeking a clean, reputable, and comfortable daycare center in Fremont for your children to learn and thrive, then give us a call today to schedule your tour!