A healthy lifestyle goes beyond just eating well and getting enough exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), living a healthy lifestyle and practicing healthy habits is important in preventing the spread of cold and flu viruses.
Instead of waiting for your child to get sick, make sure to proactively teach them healthy habits.
Use these tips to help keep you and your family healthy all year long!
- Remember your flu shot: This is the first step to prevent getting sick. The CDC recommends annual vaccinations for everyone six months or older.
- Stay home when you are sick: Sharing is not caring when it comes to the flu. Staying at home will prevent spreading your illness to others. Keep your child home from school for at least 24 hours after their fever breaks.
- Keep hands clean: Washing your hands helps to keep germs away. Be sure to use soap and water, and to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
- Cover your mouth and nose: Flu and other respiratory illnesses are spread by cough, sneezing or unclean hands. Use a tissue or the crook of your elbow to cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Avoid touching your face: Viruses can enter your body through your eyes, nose and mouth, so avoid touching your face with unwashed hands!
- Clean and disinfect often: Make sure to clean and disinfect surfaces you and your children touch every day—such as counters, doorknobs and remote control—can slow the spread of germs. Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9% of germs on frequently-touched, non-porous, hard surfaces.
- Get plenty of sleep: The amount of sleep you get each night is important. Not getting enough sleep can affect the health and well-being of you and your family. Remove electronic devices from the bedroom and avoid large meals before bedtime to help ensure a good night’s sleep.
- Be physically active: This improves overall health and reduces the risk of many chronic diseases. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity each week.
- Eat nutritious foods: Fewer than one in 10 children and adults eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables. Make sure your family incorporates healthy and nutritious foods into meals from an early age to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight and prevent chronic disease.
A healthy lifestyle is a key component to educational success, and it’s vital to ensure that children are engaging in the classroom to learn, grow and thrive. Join us in committing to curbing the spread of illness in the classroom this Healthy Lifestyles Month!
Ferran Rousaud is the Marketing Director for Lysol. Lysol is a Proud National Sponsor of PTA. Learn more.
