As the cold season approaches, here’s how to keep your kids healthy and in class

• Students in our neighborhoods have returned to classrooms and there is an increased risk of illness as cold and flu season approaches.
• Local health officials are reminding residents of steps they can take to keep children healthy and in the classroom.
• The video features a local doctor sharing advice for parents in our neighborhoods.

(The full transcript of the broadcast is included below)

Students in our neighborhoods are back in the classroom. And as we head into cold and flu season, I spoke with a local doctor about what you and your kids can do to try to stay healthy and keep learning.

“A lot of times when kids go back to school, we see an increase in respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Kathryn Baumgartner.

U of M Health-Sparrow’s Dr. Kathryn Baumgartner is no stranger to respiratory viruses like the cold and flu.

“These diseases are easily spread through respiratory droplets, such as coughing, sneezing and things like that,” he said.

Baumgartner says there are some simple ways to try to prevent the spread of germs at school.

“If you continue to cough or sneeze, make sure you do so into your arm or elbow rather than your hand,” he said. “It is important to maintain good hand hygiene, such as washing your hands before and after eating, before and after sneezing or coughing, etc.”

But she noted that such precautions are just as important at home to try to prevent the spread of germs.

“We often see outbreaks of illness at daycare or when an older sibling brings something home, so be sure to wipe down surfaces in your home with disinfectant wipes.”

Baumgartner recommended that all shared utensils also be disinfected.

“Sharing water bottles, utensils, all that kind of stuff can also spread these diseases,” she said. “So washing sippy cups or bottles more often, disinfecting and sanitizing them, and any surfaces that they touch or cough or sneeze on is a good way to prevent some of those diseases.”

Baumgartner also stressed that for children with an illness, the best place to be is at home until they are no longer contagious.

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