Health Tips for July 21

Health Tip: Keep Kids Safe Around Pets

Pets can be adored members of a loving family. But it's important to keep youngsters safe and healthy when playing with their furry friends.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers these suggestions:

• Never allow children age 5 or younger to play with pets without adult supervision.
• Avoid having children kiss family pets. Also try to keep baby's unwashed hands out of the mouth after the infant has touched an animal.
• Always wash a child's hands carefully with soap and water after he or she touches an animal.
• Parents should always wash hands after touching pets too, particularly before feeding baby.

Health Tip: Avoid Germs From a Petting Zoo

Petting zoos are a fun attraction for children, but it can expose you and the youngsters to germs.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that you take these precautions:

• Make use of any hand-washing stations set up around the petting zoo.
• Always wash hands immediately after petting the animals, after touching gates or fences, and always before you eat.
• Try to wash hands with soap and water; hand-sanitizing gel will suffice if no running water is present.
• Never take food or drink into the petting zoo area.
• Carefully watch young children, especially those aged 5 or younger. Make sure that while petting the animals, they don't put anything into their mouths -- including fingers, pacifiers or toys.