My husband accuses me of turning my child into a germophobe. She won't eat without washing her hands and gets the "heebie-jeebies" when she sees anything that looks remotely germy. Good for her. Good hygiene isn't a phobia, LOL ... I've really been talking to her lately about what school will bring. (She starts private school tomorrow!) We've talked about the things she'll do and learn, the friends she'll make, and routine to which she'll have to stick.
With her beginning school, she got her 4 to 6 year old shots last month. (Did you know that August is National Vaccination Awareness Month?) For the health of everyone, make sure that your child's (as well as your own!) vaccinations are up to date.
It's easy to think that diseases like polio and diptheria are gone, but they aren't. And the recent outbreaks of the measels, whooping cough, and such attest to the necessity of keeping our children vaccinated. (See a current vaccination chart HERE.)
But this isn't a post about keeping your child from catching polio at school. I will be posting the following on a site for my daughter's school and thought that I'd cross post it here, too.
First and foremost, I am NOT a doctor. You should ALWAYS consult your doctor before medicating yourself or your child.
The younger the child the more imperitive it is to seek professional counseling before giving anything to your kiddo. The return to school means that the weather will be cooling down and bugs will be running rampant.
Viruses, lice, and even pin worms bring parents into the pediatrician's office and the pharmacy in DROVES. While it's too warm outside right now to think about the flu, a stomach bug, or the like, it's important that we remind our children of the following:
- Wash those hands as often as possible, using warm water and soap. I taught my daughter early on to scrub her hands while singing the "A,B,C" song. (Perhaps that's how she learned her A,B,C's so early.) And while it might not be exactly green, we always use paper towels to dry our hands
- If you're in a public area, never touch door handles (esp. when leaving a restroom) with your bare hands. Use a tissue or the hem of your sleeve/shirt.
- Don't sneeze or cough without using a tissue or the crook of your elbow
- Don't touch your face at all unless you've just watched your hands
- Never, ever share personal items.
- Treat your hats, hairbows, and jackets like your would your underwear -- DO NOT SHARE!
- Treat your hairbrush like you would your toothbrush -- DO NOT SHARE!
Viruses that cause the common cold, the flu, gastroenteritis, etc. thrive in warm, moist areas. It's paramount that children learn early NOT to touch their face at all without clean hands. Better to spend 3 minutes washing your hands then 24 to 48 hours vomiting. Even if someone looks well, it doesn't mean they are.
Lice is spread through contact with infested blankets, pillows, garments, hairbrushes, etc. Teach children not to share any of these and to try to keep from putting their heads against other kids. My daughter has long hair, so I make sure to braid it to keep it tight to her head and neck. There are both Rx and OTC remedies for these little buggers. There are couple of new OTC products coming on the market soon, too. They are LARx and LiceMD. The LiceMD site has some great videos on the topic as well as money-saving coupons.
Pin worms are nasty and contagious. If an infected child scratches his rear then touches a toy, the possibility of passing the worms on is high. Another reason to encourage frequent handwashing.
While we want to PREVENT infections, it's also good to stock your medicine chests in advance. Even the best defense lets something through now and then. But, again, remember to always talk to your pediatrician before home medicating, especially in children under 6. And never, EVER give children under the age of 2 ANY OTC medications before talking to your pediatrician and getting precise instructions. Children that age aren't always dosed on weight and some drugs, even in a seemingly "appropriate" amount can have fatal results.
Mentioning weight, it's a good idea to weigh your child (and yourself, too!) often. Keep that weight in both pounds and kilograms in a safe place. To determine your weight in Kg, take your weight in pounds and divide by 2.2. (In other words, 1 Kilogram = 2.2 pounds.) This will come in handy if you have to call your pediatrician at 2 in the morning and he/she is calculating how much of a medication to give to your kiddo. Medications for adults and older children are commonly dosed on a Kg to mg scale. Leave the calculating of medications up to your doctor or pharmacist though, just to be safe!
In my house, we have the following in a special area on the side of the fridge:
- An up-to-date chart with each family member's name, age, weight, and allergies
- Phone numbers to our family doctor/pediatrician, local hospital, and poison control
- Phone numbers to all of the 24-hour pharmacies around our home
- A list of common measurement conversions. While I know these, my husband does not. It's nice to have it if he ever needs it. (See conversion chart at the bottom.)
We have a four-drawer plastic container in one of our kitchen cabinets. There is a drawer for adults, for Bella, and for baby Anna. We check the expiration dates often and clean out as needed. The following are staples in our house:
- Ibuprofen for adults and for children (Motrin, Advil). Never give babies younger than six months ibuprofen! And don't take it if you're pregnant.
- Acetaminophen for adults, for children, and for infants (Tylenol)
- Delsym
- PediaLyte
- Tyelnol Cold & Flu for adults and for children
- Benadryl
- Cough drops
- Sore throat spray
- TUMS for adults and for children
- Zofran tablets and liquid (Rx only, ask for one in advance and place it on "hold" at your pharmacy)
- Phenergan tablets, liquid, and suppositories (Rx only, ask for one in advance and place it on "hold" at your pharmacy)
- Thermometers (oral and rectal) with probe covers
- Single-use "ice" packs
- Gold Bond Cream
- Bandaids with antibiotic ointment already on the pad
- Alcohol wipes
- Gauze
- A small notebook and pen to record important data during an illness -- symptoms, temps, when we called the doctor, their advice, when and how much medication was given, etc. Because really, who remembers all of that? And if we have to go to the E.R., we have the information handy.
I also stock up on tissues whenever they're on sale. I love the Kleenex antiviral and the Puffs with Vicks Vapor Rub. And don't forget the Lysol!
It's also a good idea to stock up on dosage spoons / syringes. Never use a regular old kitchen spoon to dose medications! Most pharmacies have calibrated spoons (a plastic spoon with a hollow handle that will hold up to two teaspoonsful of a liquid medication) and/or dosage syringes with a special cap that will fit into the opening of medication bottles so that liquid medications can be dosed in a clean and efficitent manner. I know for a fact that Walgreens has both. Just ask for them at the pharmacy counter. The techs should give them to you free of charge if you are purchasing a mediction (Rx or OTC). I ask for them every time I make a purchase so that I keep a healthy supply of them at home.
We try not to treat diarrhea with anything other than oral hydration, so we don't keep things like Pepto-Bismol in the house. However, we do keep a stock of those Kleenex wet wipes. Those things are a God-send when you have a child with an upset tummy. (Or a husband for that matter!) If you have an old diaper wipes warmer, it's even better. Put the warmer in the bathroom and keep those flushable wet wipes in it. Sounds dumb ... until you or someone you know is spending a lot of time in the potty due to a bout of diarrhea!
Of course, always call your pediatrician before medicating your child for any reason. Better to be safe than sorry. On-call doctors (after hours) expect to be called at 2 in the morning. Heck, that's what they get paid for! Don't forget your pharmacist. Not only are they experts on medication, they are generally more than willing to help you.
Finally, in case of a poisoning, never EVER give Syrup of Ipecac without talking to poison control or your doctor. Induced vomiting can have dire effects in some instances. I don't even keep it in my house. If we encounter a poisoning, we will be in the E.R. long before we would need to give that stuff. If you DO induce vomiting, though, have the child do it in a bowl and bag the contents for emergency personel. It's also important to keep all chemicals in their original container. In the event of an accidental poisoning, you'll know exactly what was ingested (the chemical and its concentration).
You can still get those green "Mr. Yuck!" stickers. They are a great way to teach children what is NOT meant to be ingested. They also have the number for Poison Control on them! That number, which we should all keep handy, is 1-800-222-1222.
To request a free sheet of Mr. Yuk stickers, send a self-addressed stamped business size envelope to: Mr. Yuk, Pittsburgh Poison Center Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 3705 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2583
Hoping you have a safe and healthy school year!
Pam
COMMON CONVERSIONS:
- 1 teaspoonful = 5 mililiters (ml)
- 1.5 teaspoonsful = 7.5 ml
- 2 teaspoonsul = 10 ml
- 1 Tablespoon = 15 ml (or 3 teaspoonsful)
- 1 Fluid Ounce = 30 ml (which equals 2 Tablespoonsful or 6 teaspoonsful)
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