November 11, 2010- For many parents, frustrations about their child frequently getting sick can sometimes be aimed at child care centers, where it can seem like children are exposed to many germs and illnesses passed on from one child to another. 

Comprised of thousands of child care owners, operators and administrators, the members of the National Association of Child Care Providers (NACCP) are dedicated to keeping the classrooms clean, healthy environments. Child care centers adhere to strict government regulations for their health practices, including  proper hand washing, restroom protocol and repeated sanitization of surfaces and toys to effectively remove germs and prevent their spread. 

Apart from keeping a clean classroom, there are things child care providers and parents can do to limit the spread of germs and help prevent your child from frequent sickness this year. 

Tip One Stopping the Transmission of Germs:
Germs are often spread through hand to hand transmission, especially with young children. It’s important to teach children techniques to limit the amount of germs on hands. Teaching children to cough and sneeze into the inner elbow and avoiding touching hands to the eyes and mouth effectively limit the number of germs hands come in contact with. 

Tip Two Proper Hand Washing:
Proper hand washing is one of the most important preventative measures to help children avoid getting sick and spreading illness to others. Proper hand washing techniques include washing hands with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, which can be a difficult feat for children. To help teach children this practice, Softsoap® BRAND has teamed up with the American Public Health Association (APHA) to feature unique “Get Ready” hand washing timers. The timers attach directly to Softsoap® BRAND soap pumps and play a fun song for 20 seconds when pressed, helping children stay engaged to get hands clean and wash away germs. 

Throughout the day, there are 12 hand washing moments for adults, and even more for young children including after sneezing or coughing into hands, after using the bathroom and before eating a meals. Encouraging children to wash hands at every hand washing moment helps cut down on frequent sickness, with children washing their hands properly at least four times a day or more experiencing 24 percent fewer sick days from cold and flu, and 51 percent fewer sick days due to stomach ailments. For additional tips and information on proper hand washing visit www.LatherUpforGoodHealth.com and more information on the NACCP visit www.NACCP.org. 

Tip Three Other Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy:
On average, toddlers get between 6 to 8 colds per year and are 2 to 3 times more likely than adults to get the flu. With millions of working parents depending on child care each day, there is a domino effect when a child is sick. Working mothers miss an average of 17 days of work each year due to children’s health care needs.

• Because children have such a high prevalence for frequent sickness, it’s important for parents to take all the steps they can to prevent the spread of gems and illness.
• In addition to frequent proper hand washing, other steps parents can take include:
• Inoculation: It’s important to take to your child’s health care provider about which vaccinations they should receive, including the flu shot which is especially important for children less than 5 years old who are at a higher risk for serious complications if they get the flu.
• Eating a well balanced and healthy diet: Preschool aged children should consume between 1,000 and 1,600 calories per day including fruits, vegetables, protein and grains
• Getting a good night’s sleep: Ten to twelve hours per day is recommended for children ages two to five
• Drinking plenty of fluids: Water quenches thirst, milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and 100% juice is rich in fruits and vegetables
• Avoid sharing food and drink with others

• Fever (above 100⁰ F) along with behavior change or other signs of illness
• Symptoms and signs of possible severe illness such as unusual tiredness, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, continuous crying or difficulty breathing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting illness (two or more episodes of vomiting in the previous 24 hours) 
• Body rash with fever
• Sore throat with fever and swollen glands/mouth sores
• Eye discharge
• Severe coughing
  
  

A child exhibiting any of the above symptoms of sickness should be kept home. Because germs and illness are so easily transmitted from child to child, keeping a sick child home or making alternate arrangements is key to preventing the spread of sickness.

For additional tips and information on proper hand washing visit www.LatherUpforGoodHealth.com and more information on the NACCP visit www.NACCP.org.