Back-to-Germs Season is Here

The back-to-school season can be exciting and chaotic for families. Kids are excited to see their friends, while parents are eager to get their family back in a routine; but with extracurricular activities, homework, carpools and social events picking up again, days can become hectic. The last thing you want is for an illness to take you or your kids out of commission, which is why it's so important not to overlook health in your back-to-school prep.

According to a survey of school nurses conducted by Children's Robitussin®, sickness begins to strike as early as the first month of school, with colds being the number one illness seen in the first month of the school year. There are many reasons why germs can run rampant in schools, but the nurses cited unsanitary habits as the top culprit, with the classroom being the most germ ridden place in schools ... not surprising since less than ⅓ of teachers said they regularly disinfect germ-laden objects, such as desks and books. In fact, school desks often carry more bacteria than a toilet seat, according to germ expert Dr. Charles Gerba.

The worst part of sickness striking is how it affects the whole household. It's estimated that 126 million workdays are missed annually by parents who stay home to care for a sick child. With all this in mind, here are a few ways you can prepare your children for a healthy school year: 1) Clip antibacterial gel to your child's backpack for use after recess, gym class and any other time a child's hands need a cleanse. 2) Give your child a small pack of tissues for his or her desk so they always have them on hand. 3) Buy a water bottle he or she can fill at the fountain instead of putting their mouth near the spout. 4) Teach kids healthy habits, including washing hands frequently and using soap. It takes a good rinse to kill off all germs so create the habit by teaching kids to wash for as long as it takes to sing the birthday song twice through. 5) When a child is sick, keep them home. You're not only helping your child get the rest they need, but you're sparing others from getting sick as well. 6) Be prepared. When it comes to kids, sickness is inevitable, so keep the medicine cabinet stocked with essentials from thermometers and tissues to medicines that can treat many symptoms, such as Children's Robitussin®, Children's Dimetapp® or Children's Advil®.

The last thing kids want is to be home sick and unhappy because they picked up an early bug while their friends are enjoying the fun back-to-school activities. Be sure to plan ahead for a healthy year by adding these essentials to your back-to-school shopping lists and taking precautions to ensure a healthy year for your kids.