Prepping Our Children
for Back to School
 |
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Alongside
the
excitement
of new
backpacks,
haircuts
and
clothes…
if you
have a
child or
grandchild
returning
to
school
next
week,
consider
taking
some
steps
that may
keep him
or her,
and in
turn,
the rest
of your
family
healthier,
too.
First,
ask your
pediatrician
whether
your
child
needs a
pertussis
booster
vaccination.
This
summer,
more
than
3,000
cases of
pertussis,
also
known as
whooping
cough,
were
reported
across
the
country,
from
California
to New
York.
Most
were
attributed
to cases
where
the
child or
adult
had been
vaccinated,
but
immunity
had worn
off.
Seven of
eight
people
who died
were
young
children.
Once
they
return
to
school,
cases of
pertussis
will
increase
because
healthy
children
will be
exposed
to
contagious
children
in
close-quartered
classrooms.
If your
child’s
immunity
has
waned,
she
could
contract
a
potentially
life-threatening
illness
that
could
infect
other
family
members,
some
with
weakened
immune
systems.
Don’t
take
that
chance.
Next,
remind
your
child to
wash her
hands at
every
opportunity.
Last
year, in
the
midst of
swine
flu
fears,
we were
far more
vigilant
about
hand-washing
than we
are
during
these
quieter
times.
But hand
washing
is still
important!
It’s
developing
the
habit
that
counts,
so be
sure you
remind
your
child to
wash her
hands
frequently
at home
and
school.
Teach
your
child to
keep his
distance
from
friends
who
might
have
coughs
or runny
noses.
While
he’s
healthy,
practice
coughing
into
elbows
instead
of
covering
his
mouth
with his
hand so
it will
be
second-nature
if he
does get
sick.
That way
siblings
and
friends
will be
less
likely
to catch
a cold
from
him. Of
course,
if he
develops
a cold
or
another
contagious
illness,
keep him
home
from
school.
Let’s
not
forget
sleep.
Depending
on her
age,
your
child
may need
up to
ten
hours of
sleep
per
night.
Too
little
sleep
affects
immunity,
plus her
ability
to do
her best
in
school.
And we
all know
what
it’s
like to
be
around a
cranky
kid!
Enforce
that
bedtime
for
everyone’s
sake.
These
stay-healthy
strategies
are just
a start.
Of
course,
the goal
is to
keep our
children
healthy
so they
won’t
miss
school.
While
they may
not
think
that’s a
plus, we
parents
and
grandparents
know
that
keeping
their
young
bodies
healthy
will
improve
their
ability
to do
well in
school
--
something
even our
children
want,
too.
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Learn
more
about
how
children's
immunizations
keep
other
family
members
healthy. |
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Trisha Torrey
is the author of
You
Bet Your Life!
The 10 Mistakes
Every Patient Makes
(How to Fix Them
to Get the
Health Care You Deserve)
It expands on the
articles found
on this site, providing
an
exposé of the problems
that
exist in the healthcare
system,
and tools you can use to
get the care you
deserve.
....
Learn more about
You Bet Your Life!
........................
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