As summer days fade and cooler weather arrives, another season begins too - flu season. The flu, short for influenza, is a common virus that spreads quickly among children and adults. While the flu can happen any time of the year, it is most common from December through February. For parents and caregivers, knowing how to protect your family from the flu can make the difference between a healthy winter and one filled with sick days.
What Is the Flu?
The flu is caused by a virus that spreads through tiny droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or even talks. Kids are especially good at sharing—whether it’s toys on the playground or germs in the classroom. Because children’s immune systems are still growing, they can get sicker from the flu than adults.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe, but the most common ones include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough and sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Tiredness or fatigue
While many children recover in a week or so, the flu can sometimes cause serious complications. That’s why prevention is so important.
Simple Ways to Keep the Flu Away
The good news? There are easy, everyday steps you can take to help protect your child and your whole family!
1. Get vaccinated.
The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to keep children safe. Everyone in the household who is 6 months or older should get their flu shot each year in the fall. The vaccine not only helps protect your child but also keeps the virus from spreading to grandparents, teachers and friends.
2. Wash hands often.
Teach kids to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice. If soap and water aren’t available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol works too.
3. Keep hands away from the face.
Remind children not to touch their eyes, nose or mouth. This is one of the fastest ways germs sneak into the body.
4. Cover coughs and sneezes.
Show your kids how to use their elbow, not their hands, when they cough or sneeze. This simple move keeps germs from flying into the air or landing on surfaces.
5. Stay home when sick.
If your child has a fever, cough or other flu symptoms, keep them home from school. They can return once they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medicine. The same goes for parents - resting at home helps you recover faster and keeps co-workers healthy.
6. Clean high-touch areas.
Wipe down doorknobs, countertops and other surfaces that many hands touch each day. Germs love to linger on these spots.
A Healthy Season Ahead
The flu doesn’t have to take over your family’s winter. By combining good habits - like handwashing, cough-covering and staying home when sick - with the yearly flu vaccine, you can give your children the best chance at staying healthy.
Remember: small actions add up. From the playground to the pillow, you can be a flu-fighting star with clean hands, covered coughs and a shot to go far! To learn more about the flu, visit https://www.valleychildrens.org/services/infectious-disease/conditions-we-treat/flu
