Crawford County Memorial Hospital issued the following announcement on August 05.
Now that August is here, school will be starting soon! Many area schools, including Denison-Schleswig Community School District, start classes on Monday August 23. The essentials have been purchased to ready your children to go back to school. From backpacks to new wardrobes, parents have worked to ensure that their child looks their best on that all-important first day of school.
For a healthy start to the school year, here are a few items for parents to put on their checklist:
Make Sure You Have the Shots
All of the normal childhood vaccinations are usually required before your child can start school. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, children entering school in Iowa need the vaccinations for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, influenza, pneumonia, measles, mumps and rubella, varicella (chicken pox), and meningitis. Many of these vaccines are administered during the first two years of a child’s life with subsequent booster doses administered by the age of 4.
If you are unsure of whether your child has received all of his/her vaccinations, you can contact your pediatrician or family medicine provider to get an up-to-date record. Immunization records are checked upon entering childcare, kindergarten, seventh grade and college.
General Health
A yearly physical gives parents and children an opportunity to discover and discuss current and potential health problems or concerns with a medical provider. The best place to have this completed is with the child’s regular medical provider. You can also check with your child’s school system for guidance on fulfilling this requirement.
Students who plan to play sports in school are required to have a sports physical, which is more comprehensive than an annual wellness checkup. A pre-participation physical examination (PPE) helps to determine whether an individual is physically able to participate in a sport.
Can Your Child See Clearly?
As many as one in 20 children can't see out of one of their eyes. Vision testing by your pediatrician is recommended. The reason to have this done is simple: Kids who can't see well can't perform as well in school.
Parents may want their child to see an optometrist for an eye exam especially if there are conditions that would warrant follow-up. For example, if one eye is not working properly, there are treatments for lazy eye syndrome.
Ease Back into a Sleep Schedule
Summer breaks and late nights go hand in hand. Routine bedtimes take a backseat to fun once school is out, and for most, the designated time for lights out is ignored. All the more reason to gradually ease kids into an earlier bedtime and an earlier wake-up time—even just 5 to 10 minutes earlier each night—a few weeks before school starts. Staying active during the day, having a calming bedtime routine, cutting out sugary snacks, and limiting late-afternoon naps can help. Pediatricians recommend that children aged 6 to 12 get between 9 and 12 hours of sleep per night and that teens get 8 to 10.
Reduce First-Day Anxiety
Many kids, especially those entering a new school for the first time, experience some anxiety about the first day of school. Parents can help ease these worries by talking about what to expect on the first day, reading stories together that talk about school or “back-to-school jitters”, choosing a special outfit to wear and packing their child’s backpack with all necessary supplies the evening before.
Backpack Safety
A child's backpack should weigh no more than 10 to 15 percent of their body weight to reduce the chance of back pain or injury. A lightweight backpack that has two wide, padded shoulder straps and a padded back are recommended.
Medications and Medical Conditions
Children who regularly take medication at school are required to bring a completed authorization form to have it administered at school. Often these forms must be signed by a child’s medical provider and can be completed at their physical. It is important to keep schools informed about any potentially serious medical conditions children may have.
In addition, schools should be aware of other health conditions your child may have including:
- Allergies
- Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
- Asthma or other breathing problems
- Heart murmur
- Other physical restrictions
Original source can be found here.
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