Mercy Health Offers Tips to Prevent Spread of Back-to-School Illnesses

As a new school year begins and students prepare to hit the books, their parents are bracing for the inevitable wave of back-to-school germs. Classrooms and extracurricular activities can be breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses, making it crucial for parents to take proactive steps to fight illnesses.

“Proactive measures at home are key when trying to keep children and families healthy during the school year,” said Shana Williams, MD, primary care and family medicine physician at Mercy Health – Wellington Primary care.

Here are some essential tips Dr. Williams has for parents in their efforts to prevent back-to-school sickness:

Ensure Vaccinations Are Up to Date

Check with your child’s doctor to see if they need any vaccines or boosters. In general, children entering kindergarten and 6th grade are required to present a vaccination record. In Ohio, students entering 7th and 12th grades must have the meningococcal vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control also recommends all children, aged six months and older, receive a flu shot.

Teach Good Hygiene Practices

Good hygiene is vital for staying healthy. Children should understand the basics of proper handwashing techniques – using soap and water to scrub their hands and between their fingers. They can even make it fun by singing happy birthday twice to make sure they’re washing for the right amount of time. It’s also good to show them how to cover cough and sneezes with their elbows instead of their hands to avoid spreading germs.

While teaching children to share is an important skill, it’s also wise to encourage them to keep things like drinks, earbuds, and brushes to themselves. Otherwise, they may end up sharing more than was intended.

Establish a Regular Sleep Routine

“Sleep helps strengthen the immune system. That’s why it is so important for them to get a good night’s rest. It makes it easier for children to fend off common school-time illnesses,” stressed Dr. Williams.

While it can be challenging to transition from a summer to school sleep schedule, there are some ways to ease into it. Prior to the start of school, experts recommend you adjust bedtimes and wake times daily by 15 minutes. Eliminating caffeine six hours before bedtime, beginning the bedtime routine one hour before bed, and turning off electronics can also help make falling to sleep a little easier.

Promote Healthy Eating and Hydration

It’s important to make sure children are getting all the nutrients they need. Start by making sure they eat plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, which are rich in vitamin C and other immune-boosting nutrients. Staying hydrated also helps flush germs out of their systems more effectively. Focus on water over sugary beverages. Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and strengthening the immune system, too. Children tend to eat what their families eat, even as they mature into adulthood. Healthy meals and physical activity as a family can have a life-long impact.

“Parents can significantly reduce the risk of their children falling ill during the school year by following these simple yet effective steps,” says Dr. Williams. “Here’s to a smooth and healthy transition back to school.”

If you need to set up a back-to-school checkup with a provider, visit mercy.com and use our Find a Physician tool to locate a caregiver near you.

About Mercy Health – Lorain

Mercy Health – Lorain is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health, one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by more than 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as throughout Ireland. Bon Secours Mercy Health provides care for patients more than 11 million times annually through its network of more than 1,200 care sites, which includes 49 hospitals. In 2023, BSMH provided more than $600 million dollars in community investments across five states, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to health care for our patients in need. Locally, Mercy Health – Lorain is a full-service, not-for-profit, integrated health care system, which has been providing quality health care to Lorain County and surrounding communities for more than 125 years. The health system provides inpatient, outpatient, and ancillary services through its two hospitals, Mercy Health – Lorain Hospital and Mercy Health – Allen Hospital in Oberlin; Mercy Health Physicians; and specialized facilities, including the Mercy Health – Cancer Center, Mercy Health – Outpatient Rehabilitation and Therapy, and Mercy Health – New Life Hospice. The mission of Mercy Health – Lorain is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit Mercy Health online at www.mercy.com.