What is it? 😷

• The flu is a contagious illness caused by viruses that attack the respiratory system (nose, throat, lungs)

Symptoms (how do you know you have it?):

• High fever, chills

• Body aches, fatigue

• Cough, sore throat

• Runny/stuffy nose

• Headache

• Sometimes, vomiting or diarrhea (mainly in kids)

Prevention:

• Get vaccinated: Annual flu shots help protect against common strains. 💉

• Hand hygiene: Wash hands often with soap or use hand sanitizer.

• Avoid close contact: Stay away from sick people, and if you’re sick, limit contact with others.

• Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue or your elbow.

• Stay healthy: Eat well and get enough sleep when you have the flu. 🫑

What is it? 😷

• The common cold is a viral infection that mainly affects the nose and throat.

Symptoms: 

• Runny/stuffy nose

• Sneezing

• Sore throat

• Cough

• Mild headache/body aches

• Fever

Prevention: 

• Hand hygiene: Wash hands regularly.

• Avoid touching your face: Prevent germs from entering your body.

• Stay away from sick people: Reduce your risk of catching a cold.

• Keep surfaces clean: Disinfect frequently touched items.

• Stay hydrated and healthy: Drink water, eat nutritious food, and rest well 🥤

What are they?

• Gastrointestinal infections are illnesses that affect your stomach and intestines, causing symptoms like diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. These infections often come from bacteria, viruses, or parasites, common in agricultural areas. 

Common Infections in Agriculture:

• E.coli: A type of bacteria found in contaminated food/water, especially undercooked beef or unwashed fruits and vegetables. It can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, sometimes with blood.

• Salmonella: Another bacteria that often comes from raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or contaminated water. It causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach pain.

• Norovirus: A virus that spreads easily through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. It leads to stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is sometimes called the “stomach flu.”

• Giardiasis: A parasite found in contaminated water that can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and bloating. 

Prevention:

• Clean water: Drink and use clean water for washing fruits, vegetables, and hands. Contaminated water can spread infections.

• Food safety:

  • Cook food well: Make sure meat, especially beef and poultry, is fully cooked to kill any harmful bacteria.

  • Wash produce: Always clean fruits and vegetables before eating them. 

• Hand hygiene: Always wash your hands with soap after using the bathroom, handling animals, and before eating or preparing food.

• Avoid cross-contamination: Keep raw meat separate from other foods, and clean surfaces and utensils after use.

• Animal contact: If you’re working with animals, wash your hands often and avoid touching your face.

Why Vaccines Matter: Vaccines are essential for keeping children healthy. They protect against serious diseases that can cause long-term health problems or even be life-threatening. By getting vaccinated, you can not only protect yourself, but also help prevent the spread of diseases to others.

Recommended Vaccines for Children: 

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella): Protects against 3 highly contagious diseases. Measles can cause rashes and fever, mumps can lead to swollen glands, and rubella can cause birth defects if a pregnant woman is infected.

• Hepatitis B Vaccine: Prevents hepatitis B, which affects the liver and can lead to serious long-term liver problems.

• Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: Prevents chickenpox, which causes itchy rashes and fever. The vaccine also reduces the risk of shingles (an infection that causes painful rash) later in life. 

• Rotavirus Vaccine: Prevents rotavirus, a common cause of severe diarrhea in babies and young children

• HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine: Recommended for preteens, it protects against HPV, which can lead to certain types of cancer later in life.

Healthy Eating:

• Basic nutrition: Fruits, vegetables, and balanced meals.

  • It is important to eat a variety of healthy foods in order to grow strong. Even though it is tempting to eat candy all day, it is important to eat both fruits and vegetables. With a balanced diet it is important to have fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. 

Some examples of these are:

• Fruits: apple 🍎

• Vegetables: lettuce 🥬

• Grains: bread 🍞

• Proteins: eggs 🥚

• Dairy: yogurt 

Allergic Disclaimer:

• Before trying new food make sure to check in with your parents if you are allergic to any types of food. If you are allergic then eating those foods will cause you to feel terrible.

Importance of Staying Hydrated:

• Within daily life it is important for you to drink enough water. You have to drink water before, during, and after every activity you do. It is recommended to drink 4 cups of water per day.

Benefits of regular exercise 👍

• Exercising is one of the best ways to improve both physical and mental health. Exercising includes playing sports and any physical games. By regularly exercising you are creating a body that can handle anything you throw at it. The more regularly you exercise the stronger your body will be.

Simple exercises that can be done at home or in the community.

• At home:

  • Pushups

  • Squats

  • Planks

• In community:

  • Any sport (soccer, basketball, ect.)

  • Tag 

  • Running