How to Minimize the Spread of Viruses Among Children

Often, viruses spread fast between children when a large group of them gathers together or through touch. For example, disease-causing microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria remain on your hands when you touch another child’s play items.

Proper hygiene is crucial to preventing or reducing the spread of diseases. Here are some basic preventive and hygiene measures to help reduce the spread of viruses among children.

Basic Hygiene Practices at School, Day Care, and Home

While protecting your child from highly infectious diseases can be difficult, you can instill in them hygiene practices. Doing so reduces their risk of getting infected. Ensure your child understands the following.

  • Viruses spread when they touch their mouth, nose, or mouth with dirty hands. Your child should understand proper respiratory health practices such as sneezing or coughing in their arm to keep the mouth covered.

 

  • They should not share personal belongings such as toothbrushes, combs, utensils, drinks, food, or hats.

 

  • They should wash their hands after blowing their nose and using the toilet. Further, they should learn how to dry their hands thoroughly after washing them clean. Where there is no access to water, children can even use a hand sanitizer.

 

  • If you opt to use sanitizer, it’s crucial to choose one that is alcohol-free.  https://www.sanzi.co.uk/ has one of the best, long-lasting, and alcohol-free sanitizer. Sanitizers are ideal for killing disease-causing organisms. Here is a guide to effective hand washing.

Dampen your hands and apply hand wash or soap.

Rub the hands together for approximately 20 seconds. Teach them to sing and repeat the happy birthday song twice as they clean their hands.

Rub in between the fingers and the back of the wrists, hands, and under the fingernails.

 

Rinse well and dry using a clean towel.

  • They should cover their mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. Teach your child how to hold a tissue to guarantee full coverage of the mouth and nose and protection of their hands. Let them understand how to dispose of the used tissue properly.

 

  • They should keep a safe distance between each other.

 

  • Always use clean and dry tissues or paper towels and avoid touching used tissue.

If your child is less than 2 years, then you should assist them to ensure they do not spread viruses or get infected. Do so by:

  • Disinfecting their pay items and shared toys frequently
  • Washing their hands regularly

If your child goes to daycare, check their policies about hygiene and handling sick children. Make sure they conform to all health protocols given by the health ministry in your country.

Remember, smoke causes inflammation of the mucous membranes in a child’s lungs, sinuses, and nose making them more vulnerable to infections. Ensure they are not exposed to second-hand smoke.

Should your child get sick, withdrawing them from the daycare and isolating them from other children until they feel better would be ideal. Seek treatment as soon as possible.

Finally

Stopping the spread of viruses and infections among children can be a difficult task but it is doable. Make sure your child conforms to these and any other guidelines set out by health organizations both locally and globally.