Ways to Stay Healthy
1. Teach and model good hygiene practices for your children:
- Wash your hands with soap and water frequently. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.
- Ensure that safe drinking water is available and toilets or latrines are clean and available at home.
- Ensure waste is safely collected, stored, and disposed of.
- Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your face, eyes, mouth, nose.
2. Encourage your children to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding.
3. Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding students to be considerate of one another.
4. Coordinate with the school to receive information and ask how you can support school safety efforts (through parent-teacher committees, etc.)
We also recommend following the guidelines on hand-washing and sanitary practices that prevent the spread of viruses (CDC's guidelines on hand-washing and sanitary practices that prevent the spread of viruses and CDC handwashing video). If you have a fever and a cough, you should stay home and contact your doctor.