Preparing your child for summer camp during COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) can be challenging and worrisome. After all, you want to protect your child, but you also want them to have a normal, healthy childhood.
Let’s talk about a few helpful tips from a primary care physician that can help to ensure that your child is safe and having fun, and where you can go in Sarasota or Lakewood Ranch, FL for outstanding family medical care.
Tip #1: Get Your Child Vaccinated
Vaccination is an excellent measure you can take to reduce your child’s risk of catching the novel coronavirus. At the time of this writing, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two vaccines for children aged 5 to 15 years: Pfizer and BioNTech. These vaccines not only greatly help to prevent your child from contracting the virus, but they are also highly effective at preventing severe illness from developing if your child is indeed infected with the virus.
Tip #2: Practice Safe Distancing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended keeping at least 2 meters (6 feet) of distance between individuals to help reduce the spread of the disease. While maintaining this distance might be highly challenging for your child in a crowded classroom, encouraging them to maintain a distance of even just 3 to 4 feet can also help to protect them.
Tip #3: Teach Your Child When and How to Wear a Mask
Teach your child about how to properly wear and maintain their mask, especially when it’s difficult or impossible to maintain proper social distancing indoors. Advise them to avoid handling their mask (to only touch the straps), to avoid placing it down on a surface (rather, keep it on their wrist), and to not share their mask with anyone.
Tip #4: Model for Your Child How to Keep Their Hands Clean
Explain to your child how to wash their hands properly, with soap and water for 20 seconds. Also explain that keeping their hands clean is crucial for their health – especially before and after eating, coughing, or sneezing.
If they don’t know how long they should wash their hands, explain that singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice will be the perfect amount of time. (Tell them that singing it fast may require singing it three or four times – keep it fun!)
If soap and water are not available, advise them to use a hand sanitizer. Be sure to place it in their bag.
Keeping their hands clean is important, especially in preventing the spread of COVID-19. So is covering their nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs.
Tip #5: Keep Your Child at Home When They Are Sick
If your child has symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fatigue, or headache, keep them at home and monitor their health. If the symptoms persist and are not getting better with home interventions, it is in your best interest to have your child tested for COVID-19 and to contact your primary care physician.
Primary Care Physician in Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch, FL
At Intercoastal Medical Group, our family medicine physicians aim to deliver top-quality healthcare to every patient. They can provide you with helpful insights and information about various medical conditions, from minor illnesses to chronic conditions.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with one of our family medicine physicians, call us today at our location nearest you or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your family doctor!
