Health & Safety Tips

Communicable Illness/Childhood Immunizations

COVID-19

Information for Parents:

• Cloth Face Coverings (CDC)
• Talking to your children about Coronavirus Disease (CDC)
• Stress and Coping during COVID-19 
• Click here for the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) information
• FAQ's regarding COVID-19 (CDC)
• Know the Facts about COVID-19 (CDC)
• Tips on how to protect your family (CDC)
• Social Distancing-What is is, and how to protect yourself (IDPH)
• Advice for Teens and Social Distancing (AdvocateAurora Health)
• Tips to keep children healthy while school's out (CDC page with helpful links to numerous resources)
• How to Clean and Disinfect your Home (CDC)
• Staying safe while using home cleaning products (Illinois Poison Center) 
• How to Wear a Face Mask (IL. Department of Public Health)
• Poster: How to wear a non-medical face mask (World Health Organization)
• How to safely wear and take off a face mask (CDC)
• NEW!  Holiday gatherings, social events, entertaining: Tips to protect from COVID-19

Information for Students:

• All about Coronavirus:  A Video for Kids (University of Michigan, School of Public Health)
• Handwashing video for kids (BrainPop Jr.)
• Coronavirus video (BrainPop)
• Coronavirus: What Kids can Do (Kidshealth.org)

Seasonal Influenza Information 

• Information for D64 Families:  What You Need to Know about the 2021/22 Flu Season
• The Flu:  What to Do If You Get Sick
• Flu Facts from Cook County Department of Public Health
• CDC's "The Flu: A Guide for Parents"
• Is it a cold or is it the flu? Find out more.
• Preventing the Flu: Resources for Parents and Child Caregivers. The American Academy of Pediatrics presents current information.

Pneumonia 

• General information about pneumonia
• Ways to prevent pneumonia

Meningitis

• Meningitis facts from the American Academy of Pediatrics
• What you should know about meningitis vaccination

Lyme Disease 

• Find out how to protect your family from tick bites and Lyme disease.

Chicken Pox

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC): Chicken Pox

Pertussis

• Health Department Pertussis information for Washington School Families (1/10/20)
• What is pertussis or "whooping cough"?
• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) Pertussis
• Coughs are a common childhood symptom. Learn about the varied causes here.

Measles

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) measles website
• Information for parents about measles

Viral Gastroenteritis

• Surviving the Stomach Bug: Truths and Tips
• Gastrointestinal Illness: "Stomach Flu"

Immunizations

• Learn about the history of vaccination, how vaccines work, and other interesting facts.
• Vaccines for your Children (CDC)
• Immunization information from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• Why Vaccinate Infants? 

Safety and Wellness

Handwashing

• Learn about When and How to Wash your Hands
• Information on Hand Sanitizers and Hand Washing

Vaping/E-Cigarettes 

• How to talk to your teen about e-cigarettes
• Quick facts on the risks

General Safety

• It's cold out there!!   Information on frostbite and hypothermia
• AVOID, SPOT, TREAT!  Tips to prevent frostbite
• An Ounce of Prevention...Tips for keeping germs away in your home
• CPR/AED training video is available for viewing on the Illinois High School Association's website. View here
• Easy tips to fit a bike helmet and where to buy low-cost helmets and have them custom-fitted locally from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
• Do you know what the Thor Guard lightning horn means? Find out here
• Sun safety is so important!  Click here for tips on sun protection and prevention of skin cancer.

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Concussions

• Heads Up! Comprehensive information about preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion
• Information from the CDC regarding Baseline Testing for Young Athletes
• Concussions - Learn more about signs, symptoms and prevention.

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Insect/Bug Bites

• Mosquito bites: symptoms, treatment, and when to call your healthcare provider
• Learn more about bee/yellow jacket stings.

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Food Allergies

• Information about Common Food Allergens and Food Sensitivities
• Get an overview of food allergies by visiting the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology (AAAAI) website.

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Grief Issues

• Helping your child cope: Tips for parents
• Rainbow Hospice - When Your Child Faces Grief: Information for Concerned Parents
• Bereavement resources for families

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Head Lice

• District 64 Head Lice Brochure for parents
• General information about head lice
• CDC Head Lice information for parents

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Nutrition and Physical Fitness

• Make healthy choices throughtout the year! MyPlate.gov.
• Learn more about nutrition for school-aged children.
• Nutrition information for preschoolers
• Nutrition for children with food allergies
• Snacking Do's and Don'ts
• Helping kids plan healthy lunches
• Tips on how to get your kids more active outdoors
• Learn about the basics of healthy weight.
• Practical ways to reduce screen time
• What kids drink can affect nutrition-More on sports and energy drinks here
• Other wellness resources for students and parents