As fall approaches so does flu season, and this year's concerns with the H1N1 flu could mean a financial burden for some families and child care businesses.

Parents of school children have already heard lectures about keeping your kids out of school if they come down with flu-like symptoms, but when it comes to kids in daycare taking them out could mean a loss of money for you and the daycare. That's why many area child care providers are taking extra precautions.

At Kids Care Daycare in Sergeant Bluff, Director Charlene Hittle isn't taking any chances with spreading germs.

"We make sure that we're washing the [diaper changing] mats down, that we're washing the counter under the mat down. You have to wash your hands after you change them, make sure you use your gloves correctly, taking them off correctly," said Hittle.

After 42 years in child care, Hittle realizes that flu season not only means trying to keep kids healthy, staff needs to stay healthy too.

She also knows that if kids are sick and stay home, that means less work for her staff and less income for her business. It also puts a strain on parents who have to stay home with their kids.

"They say 7 to 10 days possibly with some of these new strains coming in. [In] 7 to 10 days your family could lose their job," said Hittle.

Parents agree, if the strain really did take that long to get over, getting time off of work would be difficult.

"It would definitely be stressful trying to figure out from my work, you know, tell my work 'oh, I got to be gone these days', try and juggle can my husband be home a certain time, can I be home a certain time," said Nancy Zubrod who takes her kids to Apple Tree Daycare.

"I would probably have to, if I wasn't able to fluctuate my shift, probably take some time off and get approved to have time off without any pay, and that would probably be a little difficult. I work for the airlines," said Kristin Montequin, who also takes her children to Apple Tree.

At Kids Care they're focusing on prevention by teaching the kids to wash their hands before and after lunch, learning how to sneeze into elbows and not hands, and be careful not to share food.

Staff are doing their best to disinfect every nook and cranny according to CDC guidelines. They've also sent letters home with their kids to help parents prepare for the flu season.

"Before anything happens, start lining up that secondary care so that if your child does come down with the flu they can attend child care. You have a back up," recommended Hittle.

Until the flu hits, Hittle says she's crossing her fingers, keeping Kids Care as clean as possible, and, of course, keeping her hand sanitizer handy.

Health officials say kids should stay home for at least 24 hours after their flu-like symptoms subside. Those symptoms can include fever over 100 degrees, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache and fatigue.

The Iowa Department of Public Health is advising all families to get both the seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine.