It’s that time of year where germs are ever present and your chance of coming down with a cold or taking a “sick day” increases. As adults, sick days are never fun. But for our little ones? It’s even worse! Luckily pediatric doctor Dr. Nina Shapiro and microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba share their expertise on how to survive sick days, and how to get your kids back back to themselves when germs cause those Sick Just Got Real™ moments. But let’s chat about the germs in your child’s school and out in the community where they play…
Germs in school
- Half of students don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom! And even more “ew”, many of those who do, don’t even use soap.
- Less than one-third of teachers said they regularly disinfect germ-laden objects in the classroom. Yikes!
- Desks often have more bacteria than a toilet seat. If eating happens in class, the number of germs multiplies!
- Up to 2.7 million bacterial cells per square inch live on common school surfaces such as water fountains, desks, computer keyboards, bus seats and cafeteria trays. Sounds like germs really are everywhere!
- Shared technology in classrooms introduces new high-touch surfaces for spreading germs – the computer mouse, keyboard and tablet surfaces have some of the highest germ counts. Here’s a not so fun fact: Each keyboard key contains up to 1.3 million germs—that’s more than 135 million germs on the entire keyboard, and a standard iPad screen has up to 192 million bacteria!
Germs at play
- The sun’s ultraviolet light rays kill bacteria. That means that the playground equipment in the shade will have more bacteria.
- Sandboxes are a germ culprit, particularly if they remain uncovered overnight, which allows bacteria to enter.
- Any microorganisms on kids’ hands will spread to monkey bars, slides, teeter totters, swings and other touched surfaces where other children can then pick them up when playing.
“Ew” is in the air
- In addition to school and the playground, the supermarket is a festival of “ew!” Shopping carts, credit card machines and reusable grocery bags all act as leading germ carriers.
- Some germs can live on dry surfaces, such as toys, for several hours!
- Colds and other respiratory infections are spread by the hands and touching the nose or eyes, while 81 percent of people with the flu virus spread it through the air when they cough.
- Most kids touch up to 20 objects per minute and touch their face 50 times per hour – leading to wide germ spreading.
Say goodbye to perfect attendance
- Did you know that more than 38 million school days are missed by U.S. children each year due to the flu?
- Parents miss about 126 million workdays annually caring for a sick child, which equates to 40 billion lost dollars!
- Missing work to stay home with their sick kids and worrying about sickness outbreaks going around the classroom were the top concerns parents have when their child is sick at school.
What can you do?
Let’s face it… kids are going to get sick no matter how hard you may try to prevent. The facts above show how germs are just about everywhere! Luckily the pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the “ew”iest of symptoms.
When a cough is making my little man miserable, Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief is my go-to! It helps control and relieve symptoms all-day or all-night. For children ages 4 and up, it is available in grape or orange flavor.
Children’s Advil® is a great solution for kids as young as 2 and up to 11 when it comes to easing the aches and pains. Better yet, it helps reduce a child’s fever fast! It’s available in a variety of flavors including Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape, perfect for providing fever relief for children 6-23 months.
If you have older kids, Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free is great for easing your child’s stuffy and runny nose. Plus with it’s great-tasting grape flavor, it helps quiet your child’s coughing.
Any three of these products are perfect for your child’s “sick day survival.” My son has battle a few coughs this winter, and luckily Robitussin® provided him much relief. I’m happy to say that he has yet to miss a day of school because of germs! Hydration, rest, and Robitussin® always seem to do that trick.
Now that I’ve shared a few products to help your child to feel like themselves again when sick, check out more tips and advice at the Sick Just Got Real™ website and check them out on Facebook!
Pfizer Pediatric Giveaway
Win It: Want to try Pfizer Pediatric products with your child on those dreaded sick days? Enter to win (1) Children’s Advil® Suspension, Grape, (1) Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief, (1) Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free, and a $25 Visa gift card! Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. Contiguous US only. This giveaway ends March 12, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Once a winner is drawn via Rafflecopter, I will contact the winner through email. They will then have 24 hours to respond. If there is no response, I will draw a new winner. Please add mdmommareviews at gmail dot com to ensure the email does not end up in your SPAM folder. Good luck!
This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.
I survive a sick day by helping my kids with giving them healthy juices, cold medicine, a good movie and Children’s Advil when needed.
I commented on this blog post
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES New Poster & Trailer! ~ #PiratesLife #PiratesOfTheCaribbean
We need tissues, a fever reducer and pain reliever and a good movie on a sick day.
I survive a sick day with making sure they get a lot of rest. fluids and medicine. They like to snuggle up with a cozy blanket and watch a movie.
I veg out in front of the TV.
I take cold meds and try to rest as much as I can
I survive a sick day by resting, watching movies and drinking plenty of fluids.
I survive a sick day by getting lots of rest and catching up on my DVR shows.
I survive a sick day with lots of meds, rest, chicken soup and a heating pad.
Lots of fluids, tissues,cold meds , warm blanket, and cartoon network.
I take my meds, get rest and since it is just me and my 5 kids, they help out quite a bit if I am down sick.
I survive the sick days with Advil lots of soup and ginger ale! Those make everything better!
We survive sick day by letting the sick one take over the couch. They get the tv, pillows, blankets, and the trash can if needed. Plenty of rest, soup, advil when needed.
I survive a sick day by drinking juice, taking vitamins and using lotion tissues so my nose doesn’t get sore.
I survive a sick day by sipping tea, taking vitamin c, and having some homemade chicken soup.
I survive sick days with children’s Advil.
I take med, drink hot tea with lemon and honey.
I stay in bed and watch movies on sick days.
To survive a sick day I get as much rest as possible.
I think that’s the most important thing.
thank ou
I survive sick days with rest and plenty of water!
I survive a sick day by resting, drinking lots of juice and eating chicken noodle soup along with taking meds.
With lots of love, soup, and fuzzy socks!
I survive a sick day by getting extra rest, extra fluids, and a good movie.
I survive a sick day by making chicken noodle soup and warm tea with honey. I get plenty of rest and a big box of tissues.
I survive a sick day by taking medicine, drinking ginger tea, and taking a nap!
Thank You
The weather is changing, and only precaution can save kids from the flu. These Pfizer Pediatric products look helpful. Thanks for the review.
I survive on a sick day by drinking plenty of fluids, taking Advil and resting.
I need lots of meds, rest and fluids and QUIET.
I survive a sick day with a lot of rest and tissues.
I survive a sick day by staying hydrated with orange juice & water, resting, drinking hot tea.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I survive by snuggling up and trying to get as much rest as possible.
I commented on a non sweepstakes post here :
https://www.mommarambles.com/pirates-caribbean-trailer/#comment-348524
I try to make anyone that is sick as comfortable as possible. I will make a homemade soup which they all love when they are sick and just be there to comfort them as much as i can.
We survive a sick day with lots of cuddles and watching lots of Daniel Tiger!
I survive by putting on my warmest fuzzy socks, get under a warm blanket, read a good book and drink plenty of orange juice!
thanks!
We survive sick days with lots of cuddles and movie time.
meds and tv! and warm blankets!
We have plenty of fluids, chicken soup and meds for fever and coughs.
I survive with tea, soup, medication and of course Netflix to pass the time.
We survive a sick day with warm blankets, a heating pad, some good tv, and hopefully someone who is still healthy to take care of the others!
commented here too https://www.mommarambles.com/galaxy-candy-bark/#comment-349028
We survive by watching lots of tv and drinking lots of fluids.
I survive with meds, liquids and lots of sleep.
Aspirin and lots and lots of tissues..
I survive with a lot of water, kleenex, fuzzy blanket and sipping on chicken broth.