What can parents do to prepare in case a child or family member becomes ill?
• Consider what you will need to do to arrange for child care at home for your children, if they came down with the flu. • Stock up on supplies and non-perishable food at home. • Be prepared to create a “sick room” for an ill family member. Needed supplies include clean washcloths, household disinfectant, a thermometer, fever-reducing medications, a humidifier, tissues, a waste basket and trash can liners. • Have your pediatrician’s contact information handy. • Be aware of what’s going on in your area and follow the recommendations of public health authorities. • Learn the symptoms of flu so you can detect illness in your children early. • Plan now what you would do if your child’s school or child care center were to close.
