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Back to School
That’s a phrase that is loaded with excitement. Going back to school for me always meant new shows, notebooks, a backpack, often even a new wardrobe. I made new friends each year and re-connected with the friends I hadn’t seen over the summer.

Going back to school has a new element of danger these days. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, AKA the “Superbug”) is a danger that used to only be present in hospitals. This particular staph infection, which has an astonishing resistance to common antibiotics, is now out in our community in places like schools, playgrounds, gyms, and supermarkets. In all reality, it could be anywhere, but those tend to be the locations of high incidence.

For more background information, read the article I wrote about MRSA back in June.

Here’s my main point:
MRSA is out there, everywhere. It spreads by touch and you usually get it through an open wound, like a typical scrape or cut. And, traditional antibiotic creams like Neosporin and other triple antibiotic ointments are useless when it comes to MRSA.

If you think I am being alarmist, let me assure you I speak from experience. My daughter has tested positive for MRSA three different times. She didn’t contract the infections from being in a hospital. They all occurred once she started attending pre-school where she was exposed to many other children daily. She’s not a sickly child. She simply gets the occasional cut or scrape that comes from being four and playing hard.

I started using a product called Staphaseptic from Tec Laboratories last spring. You don’t need a prescription. It’s available at all national drug store chains like Walgreens, CVS, Rite Aid, Brooks/Eckerd, and Kroger.

Staphaseptic is an ointment-like gel you apply directly to a minor wound. To keep the wound sterile, you can just put on a bandage afterward. We use it on every single cut and scrape in our household. In fact, Gigi cut one of her toes in the pool house after her swim lessons tonight. We cleaned the cut, put on some Staphaseptic and covered it up with a pretty pink Barbie bandage. Staphaseptic kills 99.942% of MRSA–or simply 100%.

Aside from how good I feel about the protection I am giving my family by using Staphaseptic, I also love that it has lidocaine in it. The lidocaine provides just a hint of topical pain relief. It’s great for little cuts on tiny toes.

5 Tips to Prevent Infection
Print these out and go over them with your children. These tips could save your life.

1. Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently.
Teach your children to wash their hands for at least 15 seconds with soap and warm water. If your little one is too young to time 15 seconds, tell them to wash as long as it takes to say the ABC’s.

2. Treat and then cover all wounds.
Cuts, scrapes and burns are how MRSA usually enters the body to start an infection. Staphaseptic is what I use to treat all minor wounds, because it kills MRSA before the infection starts. Traditional antibiotic ointments don’t cut it anymore.

3. Don’t share personal items.
Teach your kids not to share things like combs, bar soap or towels with anyone else.

4. Shower after physical activity.
MRSA just loves moist, warm skin. After strenuous activity, your skin is a breeding ground for MRSA and other bacteria. Remember that shower gel is more sanitary than bar soap.

5. If a wound appears active, seek medical attention.
MRSA can spread within hours and eventually lead to pneumonia and even death. MRSA-related infections look like a pimple or boil and can spread quickly over the body.

Enjoy the new school year and stay safe!