N.E.A.L's DAYCARE
"Where Learning Is Fundamental!"
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Cold & Flu Season at Childcare...
| Posted on September 25, 2012 at 10:15 PM |
The cold and flu season
is quickly approaching. To prevent a widespread of cold and flu in the
daycare, we recommend that your child stay home from daycare if
experiencing any flu or cold symptoms. To decide whether or not to send
your child to daycare, please consider the following guidelines. Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he or she has any of the following symptoms: • Very stuffy or runny nose and/or a cough • Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep) • Headache • Mild stomach ache Definitely keep your child at home for treatment and observation if he or she has any of these symptoms: • Fever (greater
than 100 degrees by mouth and your child may return to daycare only
after his or her temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees,
for a minimum of 48 hours) • Vomiting (even once) • Diarrhea • Chills • General malaise or feelings of fatigue, discomfort, weakness or muscle aches • Frequent congested or dry cough • Lots of nasal congestion with frequent blowing of nose How to treat your child's symptoms? Unfortunately, colds and the flu are extremely common among young
kids, especially those who are surrounded by other children all day at daycare. Sometimes even all the best practices and
preventative measures will fail to protect your little one from catching
a cold or the flu. When this occurs, there are a few things you can do
to help treat your child’s symptoms (there’s no real cure for the common cold/flu, sometimes it just takes time): • Plenty of rest and fluids • Warm baths or steam from the shower • Run a humidifier at night Things you can do to help prevent the flu and other colds: • Wash hands frequently. • Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth. • Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands. • Cough or sneeze into elbows or shirt sleeves. •Eat fruits, vegetables, and other immunity-boosting nutrients. • Wear proper cold weather apparel and footwear. • Get an annual flu vaccine. • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Colds are the most
contagious during the first 48 hours. A child who has a fever should
remain at home until “fever free” for a minimum of 48 hours. A child who
has started antibiotics needs to be on the medication for 48 hours
before considered non-contagious and able to return to daycare after 72
hours (3 days total). Keeping a sick child at home will help minimize
the spread of infections and viruses in the daycare, as well as parents
being called at the work place to pick up his/her child from daycare. Please Feel Free To Comment. |
Categories: NUTRITION
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