By Debra C. Ronnholm

President of Childhaven

Fall is in the air and so are those pesky cold and flu viruses. The sniffles start soon after children head back to school and chillier temperatures drive us all indoors.

When you consider how illnesses spread – droplets in the air from coughs and sneezes; viruses and bacteria living (two hours or more) on door knobs, table tops and other things we touch – it’s a miracle anyone stays healthy through cold and flu season. Young children are particularly vulnerable with their developing immune systems and propensity for putting everything in their mouths.

Fortunately there are some simple steps you and your child can take, short of hibernation, to avoid catching every bug that’s going around.

One of the easiest and most effective things you can do is wash your hands, regularly and thoroughly with soap and water. Remind your child of the importance of washing her hands before eating, after going to the bathroom, and after sneezing or coughing. (She can recite her ABCs or count slowly to 20 to make sure she’s soaping up long enough.)

When soap and water aren’t available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used, but adults should always help young children use these products. Follow the directions on the label and make sure the child’s hands are dry (and the sanitizer has evaporated) before he eats or touches his mouth.

Kids tend to share everything, germs included, but you can discourage this with a simple rule: If it goes into your mouth or on your head, keep it to yourself.

The same goes for coughs and sneezes. Give your child a package of tissues to use (and throw away afterwards). If no tissue is handy, have your child cough into the crook of his elbow. While you’re at it, remind him to try to keep his hands out of his mouth and away from his eyes.

Of course, you can’t play hygiene cop every minute of every day, nor should you. Kids will be kids. That’s why it’s important to help their immune systems stay strong.

At Childhaven, we make sure our children get nutritious meals, outside play and rest periods. We also encourage our parents to take care of their own health – and be good role models – by getting enough sleep, eating right and finding time for exercise.

Good disease/illness prevention also means staying current on child immunizations and getting annual flu shots for all family members over 6 months of age. This year’s vaccine protects against three strains of influenza as well as H1N1 flu. For more information, visit www.kingcounty.gov/health/flu.

If your child does get sick this season, keep him home with a fever, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea until his symptoms have been gone for 24 hours. Most clinics and health care providers have consultants online or by phone to answer questions and help you determine if a doctor’s visit is needed or if it’s something you can manage on your own.

So rest up, wash up and take care. An ounce of prevention really is worth of pound of cure.

Debra C. Ronnholm is president of Childhaven. Since 1909, Childhaven has been a safe and caring place for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. For more information, visit the Web site at www.childhaven.org.