Germs Be Gone: Flu Prevention Tips & Suggestions #MC #sponsored

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune Specialty Care. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

During the summertime, we enjoy family time together and usually don't have to worry about sickness, but this time of year is a totally different story! The cold and flu season is now in full effect and we must do our part, as parents, to protect the family from these unwanted germs. As you may already know, this is sometimes easier said than done, but we have some great tips to keep your family healthy!

Here are our top 5 tips to stay healthy during flu season:

1. Wash hands often - We always wash ours as soon as we get home, before meals and when we come indoors from playing outside. You really can't be too careful. I have also talked to my oldest son about washing hands at school since he is in first grade and around so many germs each day. He is always so proud to come home and tell me he washed hands before his snack and lunch period.

2. Clean & Disinfect - I keep disinfectant wipes and spray stocked at our home to clean up any messes. I use them pretty much everywhere, but especially in the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. TOYS are huge germ carriers, so it is very important to clean them often, so we clean the ones the boys play with the most and we also go through and disinfect after other children come to visit.

3. Flu shots - Over the past two years, we've gone in to get flu shots. My youngest is in the middle of chemotherapy, so keeping him healthy is are ultimate goal and, to do that, we all must be healthy. Plus, as a busy on-the-go family, my husband and I really can't afford to be sick. There's just too much to do!

4. Teach kids about germs- Before school began, I sat Josiah down and talked to him about germs and told him that sometimes there would be sick kids at school with him. We talked about washing hands before eating, not putting his dirty hands on his face, covering his face when coughing and using tissues when needed. I also bought antibacterial gel for him to keep in his backpack just in case.

5. Take vitamins - Our whole family takes vitamins and probiotics. The boys take a gummy vitamin each day with echinacea to boost their immune systems and my husband and I take a multivitamin, too.

I think all of these tips have greatly helped our family. No one has gotten the flu and only Josiah and I had minor colds that only lasted a few days and then disappeared. We have been very fortunate! How do you protect your family against the flu during this time of year? We found some great information in Elizabeth Pantley's ebooklet, "A Parent's Guide to Flu Season". She is a wonderful author and I've read several of her books, so I was excited to check this out. The ebooklet begins with information about the flu season- what it is, who is at greatest risk, how it is spread, what months are peak times for the flu, etc. I thought the informational chart comparing the flu with a cold was very interesting and helpful because I didn't know all of these facts. For example, symptoms of the flu may include chills, warm, flushed skin, diarrhea, vomiting and irritability. A cold does not typically include those symptoms, but do include symptoms that are primarily in the head (nose and throat).

I completely agree with Pantley that prevention is key! Her tips are also similar to the ones I mentioned above, including keeping hands clean and getting a flu vaccination, but she goes into depth about each of those and even includes a list of different flu vaccinations that are offered, how they are administered, how often, possible side effects and more. She really hits all the important points about flu season and prevention, which is something I believe all parents should take a moment to educate themselves about and then also teach their children. The flu is such a serious sickness and I remember having it as a child. It was the most miserable experience of my life and I never want my own children to go through that. I can't guarantee that they will never get the flu, but I want to do my best to help prevent it and to keep them healthy.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for MedImmune Specialty Care. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.