Newsletter

August is a time when everyone is thinking of kids going back to school. Whether you’re taking advantage of a tax-free shopping weekend, or just getting ready for the school year, we have the top items you need for a safe and healthy school year.

Hand sanitizer - Kids are notorious germ spreaders. Back-to-school usually also means back-to-nagging sniffles and coughs from the latest cold circulating. Help stave off some of those colds with a fun hand sanitizer bottle that will encourage your kids to keep and use it. Whether it’s these fun crayon shapes for younger kids (complete with colored hand sanitizer) or these bright and colorful refillable bottles, anything that will encourage your student to clean more often has to make the back-to-school essentials list!

Disinfectant wipes - In the same vein, disinfectant wipes are also a must-have, especially for spillprone kids. You can pick how potent you want to go with these wipes. The old favorites, like Clorox or Lysol, are going to pack the most punch but may leave a strong smell and are too harsh for use on hands or face. Some gentler wipes may be alcohol-based and include aloe or other moisturizers, making them useful for both desks and sensitive skin. You can even find wipes that are compostable if your child’s school offers those kinds of facilities. Whatever your mess, you can find a wipe to clean it up.

Reusable water bottle and lunch box - For both your child’s safety and the planet’s, try a reusable water bottle instead of sending your child with a plastic bottle each day. Look for one that is BPA free and easy to clean, preferably dishwasher safe, if that’s how you clean your dishes. There are so many options on the market, you are sure to find one that matches your child’s style. There are also so many cute lunch boxes that eliminate the need to send snacks in a plastic bag. Bento boxes are a fun way to divide foods up, avoiding soggy sandwiches and placating picky eaters who don’t like their foods to touch. If you go the reusable bag route, look for one that is PVC free.

Plastic-free notebooks and binders - Another potential source of PVC is notebook or binder covers made of plastic. When picking your child’s three-ring binders or other supplies, pick those without plastic or clearly marked as PVC-free. Bonus environmental points if you choose recycled paper inside of the notebooks!

With all of the options available these days, it can be hard to pick what your student will need (or use) during the school year. We all want our kids to be happy and healthy. While these are some tips to look out for, don’t let yourself obsess over the minutiae. Especially with inflation making everything more expensive, it’s important to remember you can only do your best with what you have. Try not to worry about what you can’t do. The best thing for your kids is a present, happy parent!

Symptoms of monkeypox can include: Fever, Headache, Muscle aches and backache, Swollen lymph nodes, Chills, Exhaustion, Respiratory symptoms (e.g. sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough), A rash that may be located on or near the genitals but could also be on other areas like the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth. The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing. The rash can look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

You may experience all or only a few symptoms. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash. Most people with monkeypox will get a rash. Some people have developed a rash before (or without) other symptoms. Monkeypox symptoms usually start within 3 weeks of exposure to the virus. If someone has flu-like symptoms, they will usually develop a rash 1-4 days later.

Monkeypox can be spread from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

If You Have a New or Unexplained Rash or Other Symptoms: Avoid close contact, including being intimate with anyone, until you have been checked out by a healthcare provider. When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask, and remind them that this virus is circulating in the area.

*www.cdc.gov

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