It is winter and the winter bugs are arriving as usual.

At this time of year it is especially important to follow the best advice to help keep children and staff well and keep schools and nurseries working well.

NHS Lothian have issued the following key advice for Parents and Carers.

The most important message is:

The key advice is the

Children should not return to school until completely well and 48 hours after symptoms have cleared.

The following will help prevent infection at home as well.

In the home the risk of catching or spreading flu/cold like illness can be reduced by:

•Regular hand washing with liquid soap and running water

•Covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing

•Using a disposable paper tissue, disposed off immediately after use.

•You can teach your child to sneeze into the ‘crook’ of their arm rather than their hands, if they don’t have a tissue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQINuSTP1jI

•Good general cleaning of surface that everyone touches often e.g. TV remote, light switches, door handles, toilet flushes and tap heads.

•https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/common-cold

•https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/flu