Family Health services across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven are sharing useful online advice and guidance with parents and guardians to support them looking after their children who become unwell this winter.

Children can pick up a range of common illnesses while their immune systems are still developing, and common coughs and colds are picked up more easily as the weather turns colder.

A Health Visitor from the Care Trust demonstrates how to take your baby’s temperature
A Health Visitor from the Care Trust demonstrates how to take your baby’s temperature

With schools returning after the autumn half-term break, Bradford Children’s service is encouraging anyone looking after a child who is poorly at home, to use their online resources. Advice on common symptoms and how to treat them can be found on the Learning Resources page of the Family Health services website.

Parents and guardians will find advice videos on coughs, colds, sore throats, diarrhoea and vomiting, earache and fever. Each one looks at how to relieve symptoms, how long they should last and when to see a doctor. In most cases, minor illnesses should clear up within a few days to a week and can be treated at home with over-the-counter medicines.

Gill Brayshaw, 0-19 Children’s service Manager in Bradford, said: “We always see an increase in sickness bugs spreading at this time of year, and we want to ensure it’s easy for parents and guardians to find the information they need if their child is unwell.

“It can be uncomfortable and not very nice to be off school poorly, but there are lots of things you can do at home to help your child feel better. More often than not, children will fight off any illness without needing to see their GP. For in-person advice on what medicines and treatments will help children, your local pharmacist is a valuable resource and will be able to point you in the right direction.”

To prevent children becoming more seriously ill with the flu, the Children’s service have been giving nasal spray vaccinations in schools and community centres. Parents and guardians will be contacted to give their consent for this.

The service is also encouraging parents and guardians of children over 12 to support them in getting their COVID-19 jab, and to follow Government guidance for children and young people on self-isolation and getting tested. You can find out more information on the parents and carers Coronavirus section of the Gov.UK website https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.