Well.ca / blog

Back to school madness is just starting to quiet down. Class is in session and the pencils, pens, notepads, binders, lunch bags, backpacks and cool new duds are all a go. You’ve just survived another back-to-school. Or have you?

It’s important to remember that with these back-to-school times there are a whole slew of potential issues that can arise that you need to be ready for. Whether you are a teacher or parent (or both) it’s important to be prepared for what can make its way home with you at the end of a school day. The dreaded germs. Here are a few products and tips to help you prepare or cope with some back-to-school hazards.

Prevention

It’s always important to keep your immune system strong, so that it can fight off the pesky germs. The following tips may seem like obvious ways to stay strong and healthy…but when times are super busy, we can easily forget a few of the most important things we can do for ourselves.

• Build a healthy sleeping pattern and make it a priority. Try to go to bed at the same time each night and set the same waking time each morning. Getting your body used to a steady sleep routine can make a world of difference in your energy levels during the day. Limiting caffeine intake during the afternoon and evening will also ensure that your pattern remains uninterrupted. Not getting enough sleep can lead to emotional, mental and physical fatigue, which puts you in no place to fight off illness-causing germs.

• Stock up on fruits, veggies and vitamins to ensure that you get are getting plenty of antioxidants. Antioxidants protect cells and your immune system from being affected by germs and toxins. Take a multi-vitamin daily to ensure you are meeting your daily requirements. A great multi-vitamin for children is IronKids Gummies Multi-Vitamins for Active Kids, or if you are looking for a great adult multi-vitamin is Centrum Performance Multivitamin and Minerals.

• One of the easiest things you can do to prevent illness is to remember to wash your hands as often as possible. Teach your students or children to wash thoroughly on a regular basis. If you are on the run, it is a great idea to have hand sanitizer readily available. Soapopular happens to carry a line of alcohol-free hand sanitizers that kill 99.9% of germs –and it’s a Canadian company! Their line boasts a number of handy sizes available, including a 30ml spray bottle and a 100ml travel size pump bottle that is easily tossed in your briefcase or tote bag for quick access.

Coping

Head lice can become a major problem when children head back to school. Being in such close proximity to other children day-in and day-out can lead to easy spreading of head lice. Head lice can be spread through direct contact, or through sharing items such as hats, combs, brushes or head phones. Here are a few lice treatment products that are available:

The Nit Free Terminator Comb is one of the best lice combs on the market. It is strong, sturdy and durable and has rounded teeth that makes it one of the fastest and safest ways to remove nits.

Resultz Head Lice Treatment is one of the first and only insecticide-free head lice treatment in Canada identified by a drug number.

If you are looking for a chemical-free alternative for the treatment of lice Holista Complete Head Lice Kit includes tea tree oil shampoo and pure tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and antifungal.

Being prepared and taking preventative measures can make for an easier back-to-school experience for all. You may not be able to prevent each and every occurrence, but there are definitely measures you can take to reduce the number of issues and illnesses you may have to deal with this fall and winter. Take some of these tips and build them into your everyday routine for a passing grade in Prevention 101.

Picture found here.

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