A Helpful Guide on Protecting Your Kids from COVID

While most COVID health and safety precautions have been focused on adults and seniors, kids are not exempt from the effects of COVID.


As of this writing, data show there are already 39,372 confirmed COVID infections in the 9 years and below age group, along with 68,549 cases in the 10–19 years demographic.


This is why we must err on the side of caution regarding your kids’ health. Remember: Despite the high recovery rates for both age brackets (94% for the former, 94.7% for the latter), COVID is no ordinary sakit sa baga -- it can become severe and fatal as more severe symptoms manifest.  


Needless to say, you need to take all the necessary precautions to keep the young ones from contracting this virus.


That said, check out the following guide on how you can best protect your kids from COVID.


1. Make sure you are protecting yourself first, especially since you’re the one who has to go to work or to buy the family’s necessities.


2. Be extra vigilant whenever you are outside by wearing your facemask and face shield correctly and at all times.

3. Avoid crowded places, too, as much as possible, and always bring a hand sanitizer with you (more on this later).  


Then, when you get home, keep following safety procedures such as leaving your footwear outside, washing your hands (more on this later as well), and taking a bath immediately. This kind of vigilance can be overwhelming, but it will help minimize the likelihood of you bringing the coronavirus home.  


Clean and Disinfect Your Home 

Cleaning and disinfecting remove germs from surfaces such as windows and tables. This decreases the risk of infection from viruses and bacteria. So, clean and disinfect every part of the house regularly, making sure to follow these tips: 

  • Wipe surfaces clean first before disinfecting them.  
  • Use commercially available disinfectants or create your own by mixing a cup of ethyl alcohol (70% proof), 3/4 cup of water, and half a cup of bleach or Zonrox.
  • Wear gloves when disinfecting. 
  • Focus on high-touch surfaces like doorknobs and light switches.  


By cleaning and disinfecting regularly, you are making your home a safe haven for your kids. And that is extremely important given the next pointer.   


Keep the Kids at Home 

One of the best ways to protect your kids from COVID is to keep them at home as much as possible. This limits exposure to people who might be coronavirus carriers but are either presymptomatic (already shedding the virus but not yet showing symptoms) or asymptomatic (shedding the virus but without exhibiting symptoms).


So, unless absolutely necessary, follow protocols and tell the kids to just stay home. Not only will they avoid exposure to the coronavirus, but they will also steer clear of other germs that may cause respiratory diseases.    



Emphasize Handwashing 

Handwashing helps keep viruses and bacteria from entering the body and causing illness. This is why handwashing with soap and water is the most critical piece of advice many health experts recommend in the fight against COVID (and even other kinds of sakit sa baga).


“The hands are the connecting piece,” notes Dr. Elizabeth Scott of the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. “You can’t necessarily control what you touch. You can’t control who else touched it. But you can look after your own hands.” 


Handwashing physically removes things such as dirt and grime from your hands. It also makes the hands slippery enough such that germs like the coronavirus can be rinsed away by water later on. However, handwashing only works as intended if done right, so teach your kids the proper way to do it: 

4. Wet the hands with water. 

5. Lather with soap—ideally, liquid or gel because germs tend to stay on bar soaps. 

6. Scrub your hands, making sure that every part is scrubbed. Do this for at least 20 seconds. 

7. Rinse the soap off with water.  

 

Have Hand Sanitizers Available 

Using hand sanitizers adds a layer of protection against all sorts of germs that can make your kids sick. In particular, hand sanitizers come handy in case you and your kids absolutely need to leave the house. But as with handwashing, using hand sanitizers will only work if it is done correctly and if the right kind of sanitizer is used. So, buy hand sanitizers that contain at least 60% alcohol and then demonstrate the correct way of using them: 

8. Put two to three drops of sanitizer on your palm. 

9. Rub your hands together. Make sure to apply sanitizer on every part of each hand. 

10. Rub your hands vigorously until both hands feel dry.  

 

Taking care of kids in this time of COVID is uniquely challenging. But it is nothing parents like you cannot overcome, especially if you follow the above guide on protecting your kids from the coronavirus.  


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Comments

  1. Very helpful, thanks for sharing this,such an eye opener

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