Kids Are Back to School, and So Are Germs: 5 Ways to Keep Your Health Optimal in Richmond
Summer is officially over and it’s high time that we start necessary preparations for the back-to-school season. Soon, kids will be swarming back to hallways and classrooms, making new friends, and learning new things.
But as kids settle back into classrooms and back into their daily school routines, there is one unwelcome guest in the four walls of classrooms: germs. As kids go back to school, so do countless germs ready to make unsuspecting children sick.
Parents may feel wary of the possibility of their kids getting in contact with countless germs and contracting viruses that will make them sick. You must take proactive measures to ensure that your kid stays healthy for school.
Richmond: 7th Worst US City for Allergies
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) released its latest report of the top allergy Capitals in the United States. In its 2024 report, AAFA ranked Richmond, Virginia as the 7th most difficult place to live with seasonal allergies. The report considers pollen scores for tree, grass, and weed pollen; over-the-counter allergy medication use, and the number of allergy specialists in the area.
According to the report, Richmond has average pollen and worse-than-average over-the-counter allergy medicine use but a better-than-average number of allergy specialists.
This is bad news not only for the fact that Richmond is in the 10 worst US cities for seasonal allergies but also for the fact that Richmond jumped from the 23rd worst city last year to the 7th worst city this year.
Richmond is home to a diverse plant life. This also means there is an abundant amount of pollen in the region, making it one of the worst places for those suffering from seasonal allergies.
The top three allergens in Richmond are tree pollen (oak, maple, and pine trees), grass pollen (bermuda and timothy grass), and weed pollen (ragweed).
Seasonal allergies are at their peaks in spring, during which Richmond sees the highest levels of tree pollen all year. Grass pollen allergens become more common as spring gives way to summer. And in autumn, weed pollens become more prevalent
It’s safe to say that individuals who suffer from seasonal allergies can expect to suffer all year round, with short breaks during winter, when there are significantly fewer pollen counts as vegetation stops.
5 Ways to Keep Your Child Healthy for School
Classrooms crawl with germs, viruses, and bacteria that can be very dangerous to unsuspecting schoolchildren. Add to this the horrible seasonal allergies your child might have to deal with as well. Here are 5 ways to keep your child ready and healthy for school:
- Practice frequent and proper hand washing
Your child’s number one defense against pesky germs and viruses is frequent and proper hand washing.
Teach your kids to regularly wash their hands at school to get rid of germs, viruses, and bacteria. School children should wash their hands before and after eating, after recess, after going to the bathroom, and after touching and using shared items.
Proper hand washing should at least be 20 seconds. Make it fun for young kids by telling them to sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song from start to end twice.
- Keep vaccines up to date
Another major line of defense against the spread of viruses is vaccines. Before school starts, make sure your child has their vaccines up to date. Start with COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines as your basics.
Additionally, you might want to consider an allergy test if you’re especially concerned about seasonal allergies and the abundance of allergens in your area. Depending on the results, your doctor might prescribe medications to control the severity of allergic reactions.
- Check pollen count
Before leaving the house, make it a habit to check the local news for daily pollen counts. If the pollen count is especially high, wear a mask or maybe even drink allergy medications (if any) to minimize allergic reactions.
Additionally, if there is no school and no need to go out, keep your child inside the house on days with high pollen counts.
- Bathe and change clothes after getting home from school
As your child spends time in classrooms with other students, they are bound to pick up various germs, bacteria, pollens, and allergens throughout the day.
When they get home from school, immediately make them take a bath and into a fresh pair of clothes. This prevents the spread of whatever they’ve picked up outside in your home.
- Boost defense and strengthen immunity
Lastly, give your children another line of defense by strengthening their immunity. Give their bodies the ability to fight off germs and viruses by strengthening from the inside.
Keep children on a healthy diet of proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables. Encourage them to drink plenty of water for hydration.
Additionally, make sure they get enough sleep every night. Children 3 to 5 years old need 10 to 13 hours of sleep while 6 to 12-year-olds need 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Teens aged 13 to 18 need 8 to 10 hours of nightly sleep to be in optimal health.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Your Kids Get Sick for School
With so much uncertainty and so much going on around the world, parents can’t help but become wary as kids slowly go back to school. As soon as children fill up the hallways and classrooms again, the passing around of disease-causing germs, viruses, and bacteria is inevitable.
With the added challenge of seasonal allergies in the region, many parents are understandably concerned. That's why it's essential to take proactive steps in keeping your kids healthy as they return to school.