Tips to keep students healthy, from brain to body

Sep 18 2010

With kids back in school, good health starts with clean hands. Now that the new school year has begun, many moms are looking for an extra hand to help keep their kids healthy and reduce sick days.  In fact, elementary school students who do not use proper hand hygiene will miss more school than those that do employ good hand-washing habits, according to an American Journal of Infection Control study.

"Scientists estimate that 80 percent of all infectious diseases are transmitted through hands, so it's important for children to learn to keep their hands clean all year long," said renowned pediatrician and author of more than 40 books on childcare, William Sears, M.D.  "Soap and water are not always accessible throughout the school day, so an effective way to keep hands clean and germ-free is to use an antibacterial wipe like Wet Ones® hand wipes, which parents can pack in lunchboxes and book bags."

In addition to teaching children about clean hands, parents can follow other simple tips to start the new school year off on the right foot.  Dr. Sears offers the following five tips to keep students healthy, from brain to body:

1. Begin the Day with a Brainy Breakfast: Children who start the day with a "brainy breakfast" that includes protein, fiber-filled carbs, Omega-3 fats and minerals like calcium and iron, do better in school and have fewer sick days.
2. Keep Hands Clean:  The first and easiest line of defense against the spread of germs is washing hands often, but when soap and water are not available, antibacterial wipes like Wet Ones® hand wipes are an effective alternative. Wet Ones® antibacterial wipes are proven to be just as effective as gel hand sanitizer in killing 99.99 percent of germs but they also clean away dirt and messes and won't dry out skin like alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Keep them around the house, in lunchboxes and in pockets.
3. Feed Your Child Immune-Boosting Foods: The best way to boost the immune system is to increase the intake of fruits, vegetables, seafood and yogurt.
4. Keep Little Noses and Sinuses Clear:  Germs often settle first in the nose and sinuses, so it's important to keep kids' nasal passages clear by either flushing them out with a saltwater solution or loosening secretions with a facial steamer or vaporizer.
5. Keep Your Children Active: Movement mobilizes the immune system.  Kids who sit too much – especially indoors – get sick more often.  Movement also mellows the mood, as stress depresses the immune system.