Avoiding Infections

Tips for Avoiding Infections

The goal is a normal lifestyle…not living in a bubble to avoid sickness. Many infections can be prevented, just by using some of the common sense suggestions below.

  1. Wash your hands after handling money.
  2. Review all notices from school regarding infectious disease exposure, and contact your doctor to discuss any necessary next steps.
  3. If you have been exposed to chickenpox, be sure and contact your doctor immediately for medication to prevent a bad case from occurring.
  4. Wash your hands:1
    • Before, during, and after preparing food
    • Before eating food
    • After using the toilet
    • After changing diapers
    • Before and after caring for someone who is sick
    • After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
    • After touching an animal or animal waste
    • After touching garbage
    • Before and after treating a cut or wound
  5. Learn good hand washing techniques.1
    • First wet your hands and apply liquid or clean bar soap. Place the bar of soap on a rack and allow it to drain.
    • Next rub your hands vigorously together and scrub all hand surfaces.
    • Continue for 20 seconds or about the length of a little tune. It is the soap combined with the scrubbing action that helps dislodge and remove germs.
    • Rinse well and dry your hands.
  6. Change toothbrush after having cold symptoms or sterilize in the dishwasher or in boiling water.
  7. Watch out for fungus infections like athlete’s foot:2
    • Wash feet carefully
    • Do not share shoes or socks with friends
    • Nails should be clipped short and kept clean
    • Keep feet as dry as possible
    • Avoid walking barefoot in locker rooms or public showers (wear sandals)
  8. Camping: Avoid drinking well or stream water, because parasites and other bacteria may be at a higher concentration level.3
  9. Avoid or decrease the risk of exposure to sick individuals.
  10. Wash down surfaces that are handled by sick individuals, e.g. phones, counter tops, toys.
  11. Allow children with PI to participate in small classrooms or small play groups to provide greater control over the number of exposures to sickness.
  12. If you have minor cuts, burns or scrapes, wash with soap and water. Keep the area clean and dry. Apply an over the counter topical antibiotic ointment/cream and monitor for any signs of infection, fever, or drainage from the wound. And be sure to notify your physician of any concerns.
  13. Treat cold symptoms aggressively with medications at home (see Staying Healthy) and seek medical attention if symptoms do not resolve in three to five days. Make a plan with your physician about how long to wait to seek treatment.
  14. Do not share water bottles with friends during sports or school events.
  1. Wash Your Hands. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/. Updated December 15, 2011. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  2. Hygiene-related Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/athletes_foot.html. Updated December 24, 2009. Accessed April 1, 2011.
  3. Have a Safe and Healthy Camping Experience. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/OutdoorSafety/. Updated November 24, 2008. Accessed April 1, 2011.