A Life Less Germy

Germs are everywhere — particularly in your child’s school, where she is exposed to countless germs on backpacks and lunchboxes and other sick children. Here are some ways to help your child avoid sharing germs at home, at school and in the hospital.

Scrub up. “Hand washing is the single most important way to keep children from catching just about every bug that goes around,” said Roberta Smith, RN, MSPH, infection control nurse at The Children’s Hospital. “When water isn’t available, use an alcohol-based gel, foam or spray to get hands clean.”

Contain it. Teach your child good etiquette such as using tissues. She can learn to use tissues for coughs and sneezes when available. Otherwise, teach her to cough into her sleeve.

“In the new hospital, we have stations for hand washing, face masks and tissues,” said Susan Dolan, RN, MS, CIC, hospital epidemiologist at Children’s. “We want to keep sick patients from acquiring additional illnesses and keep well visitors and staff healthy.”

Stay home. When your child is sick, keep her home. Interacting with others at school encourages germ sharing and gives her the opportunity to pick up additional illnesses. Sick kids should avoid visiting hospitalized patients too.

Keep them clean. Your child’s bags and toys can also carry germs. Wash backpacks according to the directions on the tag. Also, periodically wipe toys and lunchboxes with disinfectant wipes.

Learn more about keeping your child healthy and safe.