You are browsing the archive for cold and flu prevention.

Got a Cold?

November 18, 2013 in Children's Health Education

First posted in Feb, 2012 but unfortunately true this week. Worth the reminder because the cold season is back again. Slight different events but situations and reasons the same. 🙁 Read on for cold info, remedies, and a simple soup recipe. Hope you stay well…

Yes, yours truly Ms. Dawn has taken a fall… probably from that Rhinovirus going around. Do you think it might have anything to do with cuddling and one too many smooches from the grand-kids on Super Bowl Sunday? The grand-kids have been laying low with colds for the past two weeks. It did not help that my husband came down with it first and lacked the “listen and do”, advice of The Singing Nurse. Please,  “cough or sneeze in your shoulder”, “and if you forget, wash your hands”, and I’ll add another, “please, try not to breath on me”.

Sad but true, no matter how hard we try to keep ourselves healthy, stuff still flies. Actually it really does fly, the germs are airborne when we cough and sneeze and can go as far as 12 ft and that’s pretty far.

So how did I start to feel? This may help you especially if you work with children in close proximity or with fragile patients as I do.

Symptoms:

1. My neck started to ache. This is a big clue and in the nursing world, we call it malaise. You start to feel achy and just not feeling up to snuff.  This is usually the first sign of illness that begins the intrusion on your healthy space and you are probably the most contagious at that time.

So what did I do?

I started wearing a face mask at work. I made every effort to not get too close to my patient, especially his face, and of course I washed my hands frequently. Hand sanitizer is a great back-up measure to have available.  Water, soap and friction are your best bets to prevent the spread of germs. And always…..cough or sneeze in your shoulder and…you guessed it, wash your hands again.

Well, now that we have these crummy little colds:

My husband is on antibiotics because his cold developed into bronchitis. Bronchitis is an inflammation of the brochioles which is part of your lungs. Many people have a tendency to develop bronchitis especially people with asthma.

So what are some home remedies to care for and help alleviate your cold and that general stuffed up feeling? Please if you are very ill or have a fever, check with your doctor to receive medical advice and treatment.

1. Drink fluids…We enjoy hot tea with honey and lemon. I put a pot of soup on which is a great way to get your fluids and take in Vit C rich veggies. The recipe is simple and it is good to have these items on hand during the cold and flu season. Of course if you are totally miserable please don’t feel guilty about opening a ready made can of soup, more power to you.

1 Knorr vegetable mix packet: this one also makes a great dip.

Cut up a handful of baby carrots, 1 medium onion, 1 red potato, fresh cilantro, 2 cloves of garlic and add a couple chicken bouillon cubes to about 5-6 cups of water in a pot.

Bring to a boil and then simmer until veggies are done. The whole process takes about 45-60 mins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2. I like to take vit C or one of those special fizzy packets you mix with water that has vit C in it at the first sign of a cold.

3. Rest is the best way for your body to heal. Your body is working hard to fight off the germs. I know it is very difficult to rest when you have the responsibilities of work and young children. I used to put up a gate in a safe room that the kids could play in while we watched a DVD, listened to music, read books or watched cartoons. We rested and hung out together.

4. My husband likes to breath in warm steam to help open his airways.

Below are a couple of links you may enjoy about colds.

More interesting facts about cold symptoms and germs.

Home remedies by Donna Cordillo R.N.

About the lungs from KidsHealth.org

And just in case you have not heard The Singing Nurse songs about not spreading germs and washing hands, you might want to check them out, they are great for teaching your children how to protect themselves from germs. The songs are educational and entertaining and your kids will become little “Don’t Spread Your Germs Around” advocates.

Please add a comment below about your winter blues and what you are doing to stay healthy.

 Sign up today to receive our posts, free hand washing activity eBooks for kids and creative resources for teaching.

 Ms. Dawn

 

Flu Shot Quiz & Wash hands too!

January 18, 2013 in Children's Health Education

Get a Flu Shot & Wash Your Hands!

Hey there, I went and received my Flu shot today. I usually get mine in October but I have been fighting the sniffles off and on.  I still have to wait two week for it to work.

The CDC say the Flu shot is our best defense against the flu, but hand washing and covering our sneeze and coughs are helpful prevention actions. The Doc says it take 2 week to build up immunity, so get going, go get your shot. Reports say that the flu is wide spread and already touching all states.

Teachers and parents test your knowledge with the cool flu quiz below.


Have you missed work or school because of the flu? Let us know how the flu is hitting your area and what you have been doing to protect you and your families?

Below are some fun activities and previous posts about germ prevention.

 Green Germ Lesson for Kids  ♥ Germ Game  ♥ Hand Washing Lesson & Songs  
♥ Kid Hand Washing Songs

 

Have a Healthy New Year, Ms. Dawn

CDC say Flu Season starting early!

December 8, 2012 in Children's Health Education, News - Updates

The CDC is reporting an early flu season. The CDC still says vaccinating, staying home when you are sick, and washing hands often is still the best medicine for protecting yourself and others from the flu.

Check out your Flu IQ below then arrow back to us.

Help keep your kids healthy during the flu season, be ready…Prevent it!    Flu_Guide_for_Parents PDF

 Flu IQ

 Get your Vaccine Today!

So…

Flu shot now!-√  Stay home when sick!-√  Wash hands often-√  Educate my kids-√

Who should purchase “The Singing Nurse-Health Lessons for Kids” for the  & Health of Children?

Pediatric Nurses Child-Life Hospital Workers Home Care Pediatric Nurses & Aids

ECE/Schools/Teachers/Parents/Administrators Home School Families 

Public Health Nurse Pediatrician Airports Libraries Hospitals

Anywhere people cough, sneeze & breath need The Singing Nurse Flu Prevention message! 

Info on purchasing the curriculum, downloading music and hand washing animation or Health Songs only click Here.

To watch a video review of curriculum & listen to songs click Here

For a Healthier Flu Season…Prevent it!

Ms. Dawn, The Singing Nurse

Did we tell you? “Hand Washing Animation for Kids” also included!

November 24, 2012 in Children's Health Education, News - Updates, Uncategorized

Did we tell you? Did you know? The “Rubba Dub Dub Animated Handwashing Song for Kids” is included in The Singing Nurse Health Lessons for Kids”.

We have four different ways you can have your own copy before the cold and flu season bombards you. Germs are all around and teaching young children to wash their hands is the one tried and true way to prevent winter colds and flu. Of course coughing and sneezing in your shoulder is another tool for preventing illness in preschoolers as well.

I know what you are thinking, you’ve got to be kidding, have you seen my little snot nosed kids? Believe me when you get these little songs in their heads it becomes second nature for your children to cough or sneeze in their shoulder and washing hands becomes a fun activity.

Meditation in right thinking is invaluable. Hearing a catchy song is like hearing 1000 sweet little reminders.

“A picture is worth a 1000 words.”

1. You can own a copy when you purchase our download version, sent to you within 24-48 hrs.

2. You can own a copy when you purchase Individual Lesson #1

3. You can own a copy when you purchase Individual Lesson Combo 1 & 4 

 

Hey, just a reminder this is Support Small Business Saturday…We appreciate your business !

Download a little happiness! 🙂

Ms. Dawn

Green Germ Lesson for Kids

October 20, 2012 in Children's Health Education, The Singing Nurse Music

School is in full swing now and we wanted to pass along some fun health lessons and activities for young kids. Whether you are teaching your preschooler about hand washing or needing a little reinforcement with young children about germs, this post is for you. Subscribe too>>>>>

Kian is proud of his germ creation.

Green Germ Activity

Things you will need to complete this hand washing, germ lesson.

Germ print out   Green tissue paper   Glue   Green marker or bingo marker

1. Print out the germ picture from “The Singing Nurse Health Lessons for Kids”.

2. Shred up green tissue paper. (let the kids help, they will like doing this)

3. Place a pool of glue on a paper plate.

4. Crumple up a small piece of green tissue paper, dip it in glue and place it on the picture, continue until germ is covered. You can instruct the kids to not cover the eyes and mouth but don’t worry if they do, the kids or you can always draw it back on or give them pieces of black construction paper to make a face. (hand over hand for disabled children)

5. Take a green marker or bingo marker and put dots all over your germ. We were not happy with the light green tissue paper we used so we enhanced it with a darker green marker. 

This is 1 of 10 hands on activities included as part of “Lesson 1-Rubba Dub Dub-Hand Washing” from “The Singing Nurse-Health Lessons for Kids”.  “Lesson 4-Don’t Spread Your Germs Around-Flu Prevention” combines well with lesson 1. Who would of thought learning about germs, hand washing and preventing kids from spreading their germs could be such great fun.

Added fun:

1. Print out Resource page R-3, (green little germs) there are 16 germs on the sheet.

2. Cut them out

3. Tape to window, whiteboard or chalkboard

4. Make up a song and get rid of 1 germ(minus 1), count backwards learn about subtraction and reverse it to learn addition by adding 1.

7 little germ!

7 little germs, up on a wall

One wants to jump down and crawl

On our nose and on our lips on our chin and on our hips

He wants to make us sick! …. and we say no! go away!

So one ran away and six were left(move 1 germ away)

6 little germs, up on a wall… etc.

Use your imagination, if you have a simple keyboard with beats or pre-programmed melody, it will make it easier to make up a song. You can also use a standard like “5 little monkey’s jumping on the bed” and change the words. People who work with small children are great at this.

I hope you enjoyed my post today, more fun learning brought to you by The Singing Nurse.

For Healthy Kids, Ms. Dawn

Other posts you may like:

 Learn more about SMA1 & Kian   Hand print and hand washing fun! 

 Hand washing lessons & more

 Don’t miss a thing, subscribe today!

 

 

 

 

Don’t Spread Your Germs Around, Health Song for Preschoolers

December 26, 2009 in Children's Health Education, News - Updates, The Singing Nurse Music, Uncategorized

scan0004The winter is upon us, so we need to teach our children to protect themselves from the lurking germs about us. We need to enthusiastically model to them; washing our hands often, educate our children to not touch their eyes, mouth and nose and remind them to cough and sneeze in their shoulder. The Singing Nurse has a special song available to download that makes your job fun and easy.

Your kids will think you are amazing as you dance and incorporate hand motions and a conga line while waving your tissue. Read on to learn more, to read the lyrics, and to learn the history and inspiration behind the health song, “Don’t Spread Your Germs Around”.

PreschoolRadio.com has included the song, “Don’t Spread Your Germs Around” on their most recent Radio Show. PreschoolRadio is a fun podcast formatted show who plays music for children 6 and under and those who love them. You will meet new artist and have access to their websites to purchase their music. My hat is off to Lyn Michaels-Carden, the producer.

Drawing by April Matula, special ed. preschool teacher, artist and illustrator.

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#4 on the TSN CD, To purchase click on Music. Can be used with the hand washing health lesson.

Don’t Spread Your Germs Around

Dawn Ginese, RN  2004

If you think you need to cough

You think you need to cough

If you think you need to cough

(Cough sound into your shoulder) in your shoulder

If you think you need to cough

You think you need to cough

Show me what you’re going to do.

(Cough sound into your shoulder) in your shoulder

Chorus:

Don’t spread, don’t spread, don’t spread your germs around x3

Oh no, don’t spread your germs around

If you think you need to sneeze

You think you need to sneeze

If you think you need to sneeze

(Sneeze sound into your shoulder) in your shoulder

If you think you need to sneeze

You think you need to sneeze

Show me what you’re going to do.

(Sneeze sound into your shoulder) in your shoulder

Chorus:

Inspiration

“Don’t Spread Your Germs Around” has a Latin beat so I had my Puerto Rican friend, Jackie Rosado  sing it. The song helps children learn to cough or sneeze in their shoulder rather than in their hands or in the air. If they happen to forget and do it in their hands Jackie asks the children “what are you going to do?”, and they jubilantly reply “wash your hands”. It’s amazing how kids pick up concepts when you use music and motions. We’ve dressed up in Latin attire for this song and towards the end of the song formed a conga line while someone handed a tissue to each child as they passed by. If you have a smaller group, have them pass by a second time for another tissue so they will have one in each hand. One time we had a child dress up in my Nurses dress and cap and had her hand out the tissues.

 

To purchase click on Music.

3 Free Christmas songs are available until the end of 2009, add them to your library today ready for next Christmas!(update: The Christmas songs will be back again@ the end of 2010)