HSP.HE.PK3. Practice basic disease prevention skills.

What are diseases?

• Something that makes people, animals, or plants feel sick (Word Explorer Children's Dictionary, n.d.).

• A fun game to play on your tablet.

• A type of snack.

• The name of a song.

How are diseases spread?

• Direct or indirect contact with a sick person.

• Contact with an infected bug.

• From contaminated (contains harmful germs) food or water.

• By singing too loud in a room full of people.

How are diseases categorized?

• By the number of days you're sick with it.

• It depends on their color.

• They're either viruses or bacteria. You can tell the difference between them under a microscope based on their shape and size.

• There is no way to categorize the type of disease you have.

What's a common disease?

• Dance fever.

• Influenza, or the flu, which is a virus.

• Exhaustion, or being very tired.

• Sweet tooth.

What does prevention mean?

• The adults in your life that either are your parents or take on the role of your parents.

• When two lines cross over each other making the shape of an "x".

• The period of health and wellness before a baby is born.

• To stop something before it happens.

How can you prevent the spread of diseases?

• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

• Cover your mouth with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

• If possible, stay home when you feel sick.

• Don't touch your face. The easiest way for germs to get inside your body is through your eyes, mouth, or nose.

What does it mean to contract a disease?

• You hear about it on TV.

• Your body becomes infected with it.

• The disease gets smaller.

• There's no such thing as diseases, so you don't have to worry about contracting one.

What are common symptoms of diseases?

• Coughing or shortness of breath.

• Sneezing and runny or stuffy nose.

• Fever and body chills (feeling cold even though you have a fever, which is making your body very warm).

• Fatigue and body aches (feeling very tired and sore).

What should you do if you have the flu or another illness?

• Be sure to share the germs with your friends and family because "sharing is caring".

• You don't have to do anything; you'll actually get better faster if you just pretend you aren't sick.

• If possible, stay home, get plenty of rest, and drink lots of water.

• Drink lots of soda because it helps you get better faster.

When should you go to the doctor?

• You don't need to go to the doctor because you'll eventually recover on your own.

• When you have a fever that lasts more than 72 hours.

• You have shortness of breath or chest pain.

• Your symptoms last more than 10 days with no improvement (you don't get any better).