How to Prevent Your Child from Getting Swine Flu

As the 2009-2010 flu season begins and the threat of the H1N1 flu virus (swine flu) looms above us, parents across the world are concerned for the health and safety of their children. Do parents need to become germaphobic or lock their child in their bedroom until spring? No, but there are precautions they should take to prevent their child from getting sick. Below are 10 ways you as a parent can prevent your child from getting swine flu.

1. Get your child vaccinated: A vaccination for H1N1 that can help prevent your child from getting swine flu is expected to be available beginning in October 2009. Talk to your doctor now about the vaccination and the differences between the formulas being produced. Work together with your doctor to make decide if the H1N1 vaccination is right for your child. If your child will not receive the vaccination, discuss the possibility of the adults in your family being vaccinated to reduce the chance of H1N1 in the household.

Seasonal flu shots, which protect against flu viruses other than H1N1, are available now. While these season flu shots are not designed to protect your child from getting swine flu, the vaccinations can help prevent illnesses that will weaken their immune system. Talk to your doctor to determine if a seasonal flu vaccination is right for your child.

2. Educate yourself: Knowledge is power when it comes to preventing your child from getting swine flu. Know the symptoms of H1N1 so you can recognize them in other people who may have contact with your children. Know if your child is in a high-risk group for getting H1N1 flu. Know the steps to take to prevent infection so you can teach them to your child.

The symptoms of H1N1 include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headaches
• Body aches
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

While you should take care around any person who appears to be sick, having just one symptom does not mean a person has H1N1 flu. One the other hand, there is a good chance a person has some type of flu, whether it is a seasonal flu or H1N1, if they appear to be feverish (flushed, sweating, acting chilled) and are coughing or acting as if they have a sore throat.

Children who are considered high risk for getting H1N1 or experiencing complications once they have it are those with asthma, diabetes, heart disease, metabolic conditions, neurologic and neuromuscular disorders, and children younger than 5 years old.

3. Educate your child: It is easier to prevent your child from getting swine flu if they have at least a basic understanding of the situation. Calmly talk to your child about the H1N1 situation using the amount of information you think is appropriate for their age. Do not frighten your child, just explain how we all need be careful and reassure them as needed. Discuss any new rules the school or your individual family may decide to set to prevent the spread of infection. Answer any questions they may have in an accurate and honest manner.

If your child is very young, you can use the Sesame Street Public Service Announcements to help them understand what they need to do to remain healthy: Elmo Flu PSAs - Happy & Healthy on Sesame Street

4. Teach your child good hand hygiene methods and respiratory etiquette: One of the most important and effective ways to prevent your child from getting swine flu is to teach them how to wash their hands properly. Children learn by example, so reinforce your instruction by following the procedure yourself.

The proper technique for hand washing is:

• Wet your hands under warm water and use soap
• Rub your hands together to form lather
• Get the soapy lather on all surfaces of your hands, including between fingers
• Continue to rub your hands together for 20 seconds (time yourself by singing a full chorus of the Alphabet Song or Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
• Rinse your hands well under the warm water.
• Dry your hands using an air dryer, paper towel, or clean hand towel (not your clothes)
• If available, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet

Teach your child to prevent swine flu by washing their hands before eating, after coughing or blowing their nose into a tissue, or whenever they have been in a crowd or touched something many people have used. Instruct your child not to touch their nose, eyes, or mouth until after they have washed their hands. Show your child how to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers correctly for times when soap and water are not available.

Teach your child good respiratory etiquette by explaining they should cover their mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing. The proper way to do this is by using a tissue or using the bend of your elbow, instead of your hands. When using a tissue, throw it away and wash your hands. Explain to them they should not touch the tissues used by other children and to remind their friends to wash their hands before continuing to play.

5. Teach your child about social distancing: Staying away from sick people is another key way to prevent your child from getting swine flu. Teach your child to stand approximately six feet away from anyone who appears to be sick, especially if the person is coughing or sneezing. Remind them not to share cups or food with friends at school. Work together to come up with playtime activities that do not involve being really close to their friends or holding hands.

Explain to younger children that they may not be able to play with their friends, or to stop playing and come home, if the other child becomes sick. Talk to older children about how they may have to cut back or avoid going to places that attract crowds, such as the mall or popular hangouts, if several cases of H1N1 flu are reported in your area.

6. Know the health of your child's friends and playmates: People with H1N1 flu can infect other people from 1 day before they first show symptoms to up to 7 days after, or until they are fever-free for 24 hours if their illness extends beyond 7 days. Before sending your child to a friend's house, find out how the friend is feeling and if anyone in their family has been sick with the flu. Ask these same questions when a friend comes over to your house, and use your eyes and ears to check for H1N1 symptoms. Arrange for a later play date if something makes you feel uncomfortable. Remind your child they can talk to their friend over the phone or play a game with them online in the meantime.

7. Keep your home and car clean: Studies show the H1N1 virus can live between 2 to 8 hours on environmental surfaces. You can help prevent your child from getting swine flu by keeping the surfaces of your home clean. This includes items such as countertops, doorknobs, tables, books and toys. Do not put items such as purses, backpacks, library books or anything that may have been touched by several people on surfaces used for preparing food or eating. Use hot soapy water, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or a disinfectant spray cleanser while cleaning to kill the H1N1 virus on the surfaces of your home.

Keep disinfecting wipes in your car to clean its commonly touched surfaces, especially after giving rides to friends or coworkers who may have been exposed to the H1N1 virus.

8. Practice good eating and drinking habits: Eating a healthy diet is important for fighting off illness, including H1N1 flu. Prepare healthy family meals full of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. Use fruits and vegetables, along with foods such as yogurt or cottage cheese, as after school snacks. Limit the amount of sugary foods and drinks your child consumes, using them only as occasional treats.

The body needs proper hydration to keep the immune system function properly. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Increase the amount of warm liquids they consume as the weather gets colder. One way to do this is by serving broth-based soups for lunch or dinner.

9. Make sure your entire family gets plenty of rest: The immune system functions better when a person is not tired or run down. Be aware of your child's sleeping habits and make sure all family members are fully rested each day. Do not let young children miss their naps, follow set bedtimes, and encourage teenagers to shut off the lights earlier than usual.

Adults in the family should not forfeit sleep to allow time for other things. You cannot protect your child from H1N1 flu if you are too run down to fight the disease yourself.

10. Keep the humidity in your home level and the air fresh: Homes can become very dry during the winter months, which can cause mucous membranes to dry out. These mucous membranes are the body's first defense against germs entering the body and they need to be moist to work properly. To help prevent your child from getting swine flu, keep your home at a humidity level of 25 to 40 percent and open the windows slightly, even on cold days, to allow some fresh air into the house.

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Sources:

CDC:
Action Steps for Parents to Protect Your Child and Family during the 2009-2010 Flu Season
Action Steps for Parents of Children at Higher Risk for Flu Complications
2009 H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu) and You

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (Flu.gov):
H1N1 (Swine) Flu Virus: Facts for Parents (& Expecting)

Northwestern Health Sciences University:
Strengthen Your Immune System

National Association of School Psychologists:
Talking to Children About the Flu (Novel H1N1): A Parent Resource (.pdf)

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA):
Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs Fact Sheet (.pdf)