Have you heard about the latest danger to our kids? Staph infections (or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (or MRSA) infections). To learn more, read this article about MRSA or this article from the Mayo Clinic. It used to be thought of as a hospital infection but has more recently been problematic in schools and playgrounds.
Here’s an article about how to help protect your kids from MRSA while they’re at school.
In all the articles I’ve read, experts agree that kids need to (at least!) take simple precautions like washing their hands well. Here’s a site with a downloadable poster about hand washing. And here’s an information-packed site which includes a good article about the importance of hand washing (for your especially reluctant kids). If that part of the website is too young for your kids, then try their link for teens, by clicking here.
While we’re on the topic of handwashing, here’s a good (a bit old, but still good!) article from USA Today about it.
The other most important point I took away from the articles was to be sure to clean any open wounds on your kids and cover them with bandages. Don’t give in to the, “Aw, mom, it’s okay…” whine.
Image from USA Today (by Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune, via AP).
