When cold weather begins, and you spend more time indoors, you will likely see the arrival of additional germs and illnesses in your home. It is also common to see an increase in illnesses after gathering with family and friends over the holidays. At Reading Hospital, we’ve already seen an increase in sick children dealing with viral illnesses like the flu, RSV, and COVID-19.
Prevention Is Key
Schedule an appointment for your child to get their annual flu vaccine. Children should still get the vaccine even if they already have the flu. There are different strains of the virus, and the vaccine contains more than one strain to help prevent illness. The CDC recommends COVID-19 booster shots for kids, which are available for our patients at our Tower Health pediatric practices.
Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of germs. If your child is ill, they should stay home from school.
Asthma is often triggered by cold weather. If your child suffers from asthma, you should work with your physician to learn about your child’s triggers, how to manage them and develop an asthma action plan. With these important steps, many people learn to control their asthma.
Let It Snow!
Playing outdoors in the snow is a great way to get exercise, and as a bonus, it helps reduce screen time. Before heading outdoors, remember these tips:
- Stay dry, wear waterproof clothing, and layer. The younger the body, the quicker it will lose heat.
- Remember – “Fingers, Toes, Ears, and Nose.” Those are the body parts that will be impacted first.
- Make children come in every so often to warm up and prevent frostbite.
- Never ski, snowboard, ice skate, or sled alone. Never sled headfirst.
- Do not ice skate on a pond unless there is clear signage conveying that the ice has been checked by the proper authorities.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has additional Winter Safety Tips.
Schedule an Annual Wellness Exam
Regular wellness exams are important. This exam offers your pediatrician the chance to make sure your child is up to date on all vaccines and educate your family on viruses or illnesses that are circulating at the time. If your child is at risk, you can work together to develop a plan to help limit your child’s exposure.
That is why Reading Hospital has a Pediatrics Team dedicated to caring for the children in our community. We offer a wide variety of services for every stage of life, and we are committed to delivering high-quality care to you and your family when you need us.