It is impossible to protect your child from all contagious illnesses.
However, you can teach healthy habits to help reduce your child's risk of
infections. Teach your child:
- To
wash his or her hands. Children should wash their hands each time they use
the toilet and after they blow their nose, especially if drainage has gotten on
their hands. Teach your child to dry his or her hands thoroughly after washing
them. Using
hand sanitizers also kills germs that can cause
illness.
- Not to share hats, combs, toothbrushes, or other personal
items with other children.
- To use tissues and to cover the mouth
when coughing or sneezing. Show your child how to hold the tissues so that
drainage does not get on his or her hands. Tell your child to always throw
tissues away in a trash can.
- To use only clean, dry paper towels
and tissues. Teach your child not to handle tissues or paper towels used by
other children.
- Not to touch other children's blood, urine, stool,
or other drainage. Teach your child to tell an adult caregiver if another child
is bleeding or accidentally urinates or passes a stool.
Also, occasionally check your child's hair and skin for signs of
contagious diseases, such as
lice. Typical signs include frequent head-scratching,
rashes, redness, or insect bites.
