Keep ‘em in Class: Illness Prevention for Back-to-School Season

With kids back in class, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets sick. If you’re already weary just thinking about doctor’s notes and missed homework, SSM Health urgent care physician Dr. Christopher Harkin is here for you. The doctor and dad says a few tried and true strategies can go a long way to keeping your household healthy this school year.

Keep it clean

Dr. Harkin’s first piece of advice?

“Wash your hands!” Dr. Harkin offered. “Germs get on your hands, then live on everything you touch – from desks and pencils to water bottles and other everyday items.”

 If your kiddo can’t make it to the sink to wash up with soap and water, hand sanitizer works, too. Remind kids to avoid touching their face if they haven’t had a chance to wash their hands.

Other things to wipe down and wash off include:

• Water bottles – remind kids to bring those bottles home for at least a good wipe down with a disinfecting wipe; even better? Routinely run it through the dishwasher.

• Earbuds – while kids shouldn’t be sharing earbuds or headphones with others, it happens; make sure these get wiped down when they come home.

• Laptops, lunchboxes, pens, pencils, etc. – when daily use items come home, help your kids wipe them down to clean off any grime and lingering germs.

Keep it to yourself

“It’s important to keep our personal items, well, personal,” said Dr. Harkin. “Don’t share your water bottle with friends. Don’t let your friends put your AirPods in their ears to listen to your music. If it goes on your body or near your mouth, ears or eyes, please don’t share it.”

Germs generally enter our bodies through our mouth, eyes and nose. Remind kids of all ages – college students included – to keep their personal items to themselves.

Sharing (germs) is not caring

Sick season is another opportunity to teach our kids to be kind – by not sharing germs in the first place. Dr. Harkin’s advice on stopping the spread of illness includes:

• Cough like a vampire – teach kids to cough into their elbow 

• Catch that sneeze – teach kids to sneeze into a tissue… and remind them to toss used tissues in the trash immediately

• Feel sick? Stay home – when kids aren’t feeling well, rest really is best; when they stay home, they’re less likely to pass on whatever’s made them ill

• Must head out? Mask up – we learned great lessons during the COVID pandemic, including the proven protection of mask wearing; if they must leave the house while sick, remind them that wearing a mask protects others

Prevention is key

Want to avoid the flu, COVID, chickenpox, measles, and other preventable illnesses all together? Keep your kids up to date on routine vaccinations.

“Vaccines WORK. End of discussion,” said Dr. Harkin. “We’ve been using vaccines to prevent the spread of serious illnesses for 50, 60, even 70 years. They work, and I’ll always recommend using vaccines to prevent serious illness.”

If you aren’t sure if your kids are due for any vaccines, check in with their primary care provider or the Wisconsin Immunization Registry. SSM Health providers are ready to administer all routine vaccinations at a wellness or other scheduled visit. 

When to seek care

Even the most prepared parent won’t be able to stop every illness this school year. When the inevitable happens, Dr. Harkin says these symptoms mean it’s time to see a doctor:

• Fever – fevers higher than 101 degrees should be seen by a provider

• Persistent symptoms – if your symptoms just won’t go away (like a cold hanging on beyond 10 days), it’s a good idea to get it checked out

• Difficulty breathing – if your kid is having trouble breathing, take them to the emergency room right away

We all know that sitting in a waiting room with a sick kid is no picnic, so for mild to moderate health concerns you can skip that step with SSM Health’s Express Virtual Care. This flat-fee service offers both e-visits and video visits with an SSM Health provider. You can be seen daily from 6:00 am – 10:00 pm, including on weekends and holidays. If your symptoms require further testing or cannot be treated virtually, you won’t be charged. You do not need to have insurance or be a current SSM Health patient to use Express Virtual Care.