How to Prepare for Back-to-School Germs
By Robert Squire, pharmacist at SpotRx
The COVID-19 pandemic taught us a lot about how easily germs spread. As kids return to the classroom and are exposed to many people they may not have seen in a long time, their exposure rate of other common germs also increases.
As you and your child prepare to go back to school, here are a few recommendations to help you boost your immunity and stay healthy.
Sleep and good nutrition – In the weeks leading up to returning to school, you should adjust your sleep habits. Start by making sure you and your child go to bed earlier. Proper rest and sleep habits have been shown to support your overall health.
Good nutrition is important as well. Incorporate a variety of food at each meal, including fruits and vegetables. Also make sure to limit sugary snacks, desserts, candy, and high fat foods. Having balanced meals with lean protein, fruits and vegetables can help you feel your best and fight any illness.
Wash Your Hands – We touch thousands of different surfaces every day – cellphones, doorknobs, remote controls, pet toys, car doors, desks and more. Common germs live on these surfaces and easily pass from one person to the next. Proper and frequent handwashing is a critical step to staying healthy. When you return home, make sure to wash your hands and/or use hand sanitizer.
Stop the Sneezes – Sneezing is another way that germs are easily spread. Teach children to cover their mouth when they cough, or sneeze with their elbow or a tissue to help reduce the spread of germs. Make sure they wash their hands afterward as well.
Don’t Share – Yes, sharing it caring, but when someone at home is sick do not share utensils, cups, toothbrushes, or anything that comes in contact with their mouth or nose. Also consider setting up a min-quarantine for a sick child – limiting their movement throughout the house will help reduce other family member’s exposure to their illness.
Supplement – Your body might not always be getting the nutrients it needs, so adding in a multivitamin or other supplement such as vitamin C, zinc or vitamin D may help support a healthy immune system.
Whether you feel a cold coming on or you’re looking for additional advice on your health, your local pharmacist is a great resource to answer questions. Pharmacists pride themselves as being ranked consistently among the most trusted and accessible professionals in healthcare and are often more accessible than your primary care doctor.
SpotRx is a point of care pharmacy that puts control of the pharmacy experience back into the hands of the consumer. SpotRx delivers an innovative pharmacy experience where patients can leave their doctor’s office with their medications via the convenient pharmacy kiosks or opt to receive all their medications through delivery to their home free of charge. SpotRx is dedicated to increasing the health outcomes of their clinic partners by ensuring patients have a high-touch pharmacy experience while providing exceptional value for patients who must pay out-of-pocket for their medications. For more information visit www.spotrx.com