LIMA — A Lima doctor is encouraging parents to set sleep routines for their children and take other proactive steps to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses as children return to school this month.
“Keeping children healthy during the school year starts with proactive measures at home,” Dr. Julie Webster, a physician for Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Family Medicine, said in a news release Tuesday.
Webster encourages parents to check in with their pediatrician to see if their child is due for any vaccines or boosters.
Parents should teach children good hygiene, like the importance of soap and water to wash hands or how to cover coughs and sneezes with their elbows instead of their hands to prevent the spread of germs, according to Webster.
Regular sleep routines — including limited access to electronics at bedtime — and healthy eating and hydration are important too as children readjust to their school-year routines.
“Ensuring adequate rest contributes to fortifying the immune system, thereby enhancing children’s ability to combat typical school-related illness,” Webster said in the release.
“Implementing these straightforward guidelines enables parents to diminish the chances of their children experiencing illness throughout the school year,” she said.
