Staying Healthy During Flu Season!

Attention St. Louis Nannies and Sitters!

TLC for Kids wants you to stay healthy this cold and flu season!

As you know, the cold and flu season is upon us and likely to be more extreme this year than in years past. As child care providers who sometimes care for mildly ill children, it is important that you take extra measures to stay healthy yourself! In order to stay healthy it is important to maintain a healthy life style, wash hands frequently and consider getting a flu shot! Flu shots are available at your doctor's office, clinics, and most area Walgreen's. Please review the following information TLC for Kids in St. Louis sent our to all of our nannies about staying healthy this season!


- Jessica

TLC Nannies -- Tips for Staying Healthy Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

You can protect yourself and others by following these key action steps.

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner only if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.

4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.

5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

6. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu when vaccine is available in your area.



TLC has been receiving quite a few jobs from St. Louis parents looking for nannies to care for their sick children, here are a few tips!

When providing care to a child who is sick, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:

1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues, or laundry.

2. Remind the sick child to cover their coughs or cough into their sleeve and clean their hands after coughing and/or sneezing.

3. Have the child clean their hands often, using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Children may need reminders or help keeping their hands clean.

4. Wipe down toys, counter tops and other items the child touches.

5. Avoid being face-to-face with the sick child.

6. When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.

7. Keep the sick child away from other people as much as possible.



How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

*fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

* Not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What should I do if I get sick?

Don't panic! You may have a simple cold. If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What is the incubation period of the H1N1 flu? How long will it take to get the flu after being exposed?

The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1 to 7 days, and more likely 1 to 4 days.

Persons with novel H1N1 flu virus infection should be considered potentially contagious (able to spread disease) for up to 7 days after illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

For more information please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.htm