Coronavirus Information

Nurse Lexi's office is located in the former front office as you walk in to Aidan's main entrance lobby. 

Lexi O'Malley: l.omalley@aidanschool.org / (202) 387-2700

TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY

• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet – avoid processed foods, increase your fiber intake, and add a variety of colors to your plate in the forms of fruits, vegetables and herbs!
• Exercise regularly – at least 30 minutes a day
• Get plenty of sleep – creating a sleep schedule can be extremely beneficial

TAKE CARE OF YOUR MIND

• Practice deep breathing, stretching, and meditation
• Make time to unwind – participate in activities that you enjoy when you can
• Connect with others – in a safe environment with the proper precautions in place, or online/phone/text

IMMUNE SUPPORT SUPPLEMENTS

There are a number of great vitamins and minerals that can strengthen your immune system and keep it functioning at its best through food and supplementation. Here are some recommendations from Dr. Chris D’Amato, Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

• Vitamin C – citrus fruits, potatoes, tomatoes
  • May help prevent bacterial, viral, or other infections.
• Vitamin D – sunlight, fatty fish
  • One of the most important immune system-strengthening nutrients. It can reduce the risk of colds and flu and should be taken on a regular basis, and is another reason why getting outside and exercising is important!
• Vitamin A – leafy green vegetables, orange and yellow vegetables, tomatoes, fruits
  • Supports the body’s ability to fight infections (especially respiratory).
• Zinc – oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains
  • Helps reduce the number of infections and the duration of the common cold if taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
• Selenium – brazil nuts, seafood, cereals and other grains, dairy products, organ meats
  • An antioxidant essential to immune function and helps strengthens the body’s defenses against bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells.
• Probiotics – yogurt, natural yeast, fermented foods (not overly processed)
  • “Good bacteria” that both support gut health and influence the function and regulation of the immune system. They can also decrease the number of respiratory infections.
• Raw Honey
  • An antioxidant that’s also good at relieving minor pain and inflammation of the nose and throat, which can be combined with tea or hot water and lemon to soothe coughs or sore throats.
• Garlic
  • May reduce the severity of upper viral respiratory infections.

How we can help kids increase their sense of control as the coronavirus approaches (The Washington Post)

A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads (CNN)

Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus (Child Mind Institute)

Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus (The New York Times)

Just for Kids: A Comic Exploring the New Coronavirus (NPR)

BrainPOP Coronavirus (BrainPOP)

Coronavirus, Wildfires, Oh My: What to Say to a Child Who's Scared by the News (Fatherly)

How to talk to children about difficult news (American Psychological Association)

Explaining the News to Our Kids (Common Sense Media)

Speaking Up Against Racism Around the New Coronavirus (Teaching Tolerance)

When Xenophobia Spreads Like A Virus (NPR)