Keep illnesses at bay this back to school season
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria may pose a real threat, but you and your family are not defenseless. You can do more than you know to stop superbugs before they start by following these tips:
- Wash your hands. Get in the habit of washing your hands often with soap and warm water, especially when your hands are dirty. It’s easy to do but too many of us don’t do it often enough. Get your kids in the habit too. You can use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- Keep your hands away from your face. Your eyes, nose and mouth are perfect avenues for germs to get into your body. Show your kids how to use a tissue to touch their noses. Kids often scratch or rub their eyes without thinking, so get them to use the backs of their hands or their knuckles. Those spots touch fewer surfaces, so are a little safer to use.
- Always read prescriptions carefully. Doctors calculate antibiotic doses precisely to make sure to wipe out the bacterial infection you have. Make sure you know how much to take, when and how often. And ask questions if you don’t understand.
Find more information online at canada.ca/antibiotics.