With Flu on the Rise, People Around Children Take Caution

Now that the flu is widespread in Massachusetts and throughout the country, places that accommodate a lot of children are taking extra precautions.

At the "Inside Playground" in Watertown, workers are constantly sterilizing the toys, taking them in and out of use, washing the bouncy houses, using Lysol and routinely cleaning the bathrooms several times a day.

Signs tell people to sanitize, and Clorox wipes are everywhere.

"We know what it's like to have a sick child, and it's horrible you can't help them, so we're trying to do everything we can to prevent that," said Julie Wilkins.

Despite the outbreak, Wilkins says customers have been coming in regularly because they know they're taking the steps to keep them safe.

Flu activity is still rising, according to the Centers For Disease Control.

They say nationwide, a reported 10 more kids died this week, bringing the pediatric death total to 63.

Tom Lepore, a youth baseball coach in Arlington, is instructing his players to wash their hands often.

"They all have their own helmets and bats, which cuts down on the cross contamination," he said.

Lepore also says his own team has been affected. Friday night, they were down some kids because they or their siblings have the flu.

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