RSV & Germ Protection #RSVProtection

With two kids in two different schools, we have a lot of germs to worry about.  I don’t even want to think about how many kids total they come in contact with, not to mention the adults and then there are germ carriers who don’t show signs of sickness but rather carry the germs!  So how do I keep germs under control in our household?  Well I basically try my hardest!

Here are some things I do to control germs:

• I attached a hand sanitizer to their backpacks
• First thing my boys do when they walk in the door is wash their hands
• Whenever we have a playdate here, I spray all the toys with Chlorox Anywhere Spray, sice its safe around kids who put toys in their mouths a.k.a. my 18 month old!
• My boys take their daily gummy vitamins
• Lots of Vitamin C – Orange juice and Vitamin C candies
• Lots of laundry – I wash sheets and coats (anything that doesn’t normally get washed each time) at least once a week, more often if someone is sick
• Change out toothbrushes – When one of us is sick it means they also get a new and fresh toothbrush!  This is one I think a lot of people forget about.
• Avoid places – This is not always possible but with the Flu going around we have gone out less to try to avoid any potential germs.

Did you know that 82% of U.S. children aged six weeks to six years old, spend some amount of time in child care?  By child care that also means school-setting.  Since kids lack good personal hygiene and are rewarded for sharing, a daycare or school-setting is a breading ground for germs.  This is especially hard on young kids whose immune systems are not fully developed.  Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common seasonal virus that affects two-thirds of infants by age one and almost 100% of babies by age two, because it’s highly contagious.  RSV can live on surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, toys, bedding…) for several hours and is often spread through touching, hugging and kissing.  RSV may seem like a cold, but in some babies it results in a serious respiratory infection.  The RSV season runs from November through March so it is especially important to be extra careful of germs and illnesses during that time.  There is no treatment for RSV other than letting it run its course.

Since I have a little one at home (under 2 years old) I am extra careful with germs since I know her immune system is still developing.  I don’t want though any of my kids or family members sick though so anything I can do to fight and prevent germs is worth trying!  It is easy to brush off a cold in a child, but it is especially important to watch for any signs that the cold is getting worse or lasting longer than it should.

You can read more about RSV at RSVProtection.com

Mom and More Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. Please see my Disclosure Policy.