Covid-19 and children – Keep Our Children Safe

COVID-19 and children – ARE OUR CHILDREN SAFE? – (Coronavirus) Infections are continuing to soar and they are quickly reaching the most vulnerable. Parents are worried about the health and safety of their children. How can we protect and safeguard our little ones? Here are some precautionary methods that you can be aware of and teach your children as well, to prevent from getting infected.

Does COVID-19 affect children?

This is a new virus and we do not know enough yet about how it affects children or pregnant women. However, We know it is possible for people of any age to be infected with the virus, but so far there have been relatively few cases of COVID-19 reported among children. The virus is fatal in rare cases, especially among older people with pre-existing medical conditions.

How to avoid the risk of infection?

You can encourage your child to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by teaching them to do the same things everyone should do to stay healthy. Here are four precautions you and of course, your family can take to avoid infection:
 
Precaution #1 First and foremost, Wash hands frequently using soap and water or can use alcohol-based hand rub as well. Teach your children to wash hands properly.

What is the best way to wash hands properly?

• Wet hands with running water
• Apply enough soap to cover wet hands
• Scrub all surfaces of the hands – including the back of the hands, between fingers and under nails – for at least 20 seconds.
• Rinse thoroughly with running water
• Dry hands with a clean cloth or single-use towel

Ask them to Wash their hands often, especially before eating; after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; and going to the bathroom. 

 #2 Secondly, ask them to Cover their mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing. Finally, Dispose of used tissue immediately.

#3 In fact, Avoid your children’s close contact with anyone who has cold or flu-like symptoms.

#4 Seek medical care immediately if you or your child has a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.

How to make your child aware of corona?

As public conversations around coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increase, obviously, children may worry about themselves, their families, and their friends getting ill with COVID-19.

Parents, family members, and also other trusted adults can play an important role in helping children make sense of what they hear in a way that is honest, and accurate, and as a result, can minimize anxiety or fear. Of course, Adults should guide the children through conversations and make them understand about COVID-19 and ways they can avoid getting and spreading the disease.

General principles for talking to children

Remain calm and reassuring.

Firstly, Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.

Make yourself available to listen and to talk.

Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.

Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.

Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. So Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.

Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online.

Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic obviously can lead to anxiety.

Provide information that is honest and accurate.

Most importantly, Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child. Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumours and inaccurate information.

Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick. Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then finally to throw the tissue into the trash. Get children into a handwashing habit. Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food as well. If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.

What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID-19?

You should seek medical attention immediately. symptoms of COVID-19 like cough or fever can be similar to those of the flu, or the common cold – which are a lot more frequent.

Continue to follow good hand and respiratory hygiene practices like regular handwashing, and keep your child up to date with vaccinations – so that your child is protected against other viruses and bacteria-causing diseases as well.

As with other respiratory infections like the flu, seek care early if you or your child are having symptoms, and try to avoid going to public places (workplace, schools, public transport), to prevent it spreading to others.