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Keep Kids Safe from Germs
Encourage hand washing.
"We can't stress this enough when it comes to keeping colds and flus away," says Paul Horowitz, MD, the medical director of Pediatric Clinics at Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon. "Make sure your child and any of their friends wash their hands before they play in a new area." Here's how: "Use warm water with soap and engage in vigorous rubbing for at least 20 seconds," he says. "That's about as long as saying the alphabet once or singing 'Happy Birthday' twice." Then, rinse with fresh water and dry with a paper towel—and let the fun begin.
"We can't stress this enough when it comes to keeping colds and flus away," says Paul Horowitz, MD, the medical director of Pediatric Clinics at Legacy Health System in Portland, Oregon. "Make sure your child and any of their friends wash their hands before they play in a new area." Here's how: "Use warm water with soap and engage in vigorous rubbing for at least 20 seconds," he says. "That's about as long as saying the alphabet once or singing 'Happy Birthday' twice." Then, rinse with fresh water and dry with a paper towel—and let the fun begin.
Related WebMD Resources
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Health and safety for preschoolers
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Defend your kitchen from germs.
- Backyard safety tips for children
SOURCES: Paul Horowitz, MD, the medical director of Pediatric Clinics at Legacy Health System in Portland, Ore. Neil Schachter, MD, medical director, respiratory care, Mount Sinai, New York City; and author, The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds and Flu.
© 2005 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
