Health and Safety Precautions Help Children Adjust To New School Year

A Back-to-School `Shopping List' from the Pennsylvania Medical Society

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When planning your back-to-school checklist, health and safety precautions should be at the top -- right up there with new clothes, notebooks, and lunch boxes. Bicycle helmets and protective sports gear, updated immunizations, and properly fitted backpacks also should be addressed to make your child's transition into a new school year as successful as possible.

"Preparations that ensure our children's physical and emotional well-being can have the greatest impact on the outcome of their school year," says Mark Reuben, M.D., a pediatrician from Berks County and a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. "The time to lay the foundation for a good year is now, before your children return to school."

In addition to new pencils and binders, your school to-do list should include the following, according to the Pennsylvania Medical Society. Immunizations

Thousands of students in Pennsylvania public schools were prevented from attending classes on May 1 this past academic year because they had not received a second dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, as mandated by a new state law. To avoid this disruption in your child's school year, talk to your child's doctor and be sure their required immunizations are current. The Pennsylvania Medical Society suggests that you also start thinking about the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine that the state will require for public school admission beginning with the 2002-2003 academic year.

Asthma is the most prevalent childhood illness found in schools. Dr. Reuben recommends that you discuss preventive medication, inhaler use, and exercise restrictions for your asthmatic child with school personnel at the start of the new year.

About one in 50 young people are allergic to certain foods, most commonly peanuts, shellfish, strawberries, and oranges, according to Dr. Reuben. If your child has an allergy, you can ease the transition into a new school year by carefully explaining the consequences of eating the wrong foods and of sharing lunches with classmates. Also, be sure to note your child's allergies and remedies on appropriate school records.

After a summer of carefully supervised lunches, your child is heading off to school where he or she is free to pick and choose what to eat and what to discard. So, what's a parent to do to get a child to eat healthy, nutritious lunches? The first step is to make yourself aware of your school's vending machine policy, and then discuss with your child how to spend his or her lunch money. If your child takes a packed lunch, be sure it includes fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, and water or milk. Avoid sugary, fatty, and salty foods and sweetened drinks.

The return to school heralds the excitement and enthusiasm of fall sports like football, soccer, and field hockey -- all contact sports with a high frequency of injury. The Pennsylvania Medical Society advises parents of sports-minded children to talk with physicians and coaches, before the season starts, about precautions to reduce the risk of injury. At the same time, be sure your child has all necessary protective gear such as properly fitted helmets, padding, and mouthguards.

Parents aren't the only ones who feel the stress of a new school year. Children feel it too. Whether their stress derives from academic or social pressures, students need positive reinforcement of their achievements in order to maintain the self-confidence necessary for success.

Dr. Reuben says, "Children who grow up feeling they give their best and yet always fall short of the mark lose self-confidence and eventually stop trying." He advises parents not to compare a child with siblings and friends, but instead to recognize their individual strengths and talents and encourage them along those lines.

He also suggests that parents investigate if a child dislikes or refuses to go to school. Often, says Dr. Reuben, a student is being bullied or having difficulties with classmates. If parents and school administrators can't resolve the situation, the child's physician should be consulted.

Last, but not least, is the ever-popular backpack. If not fitted and used properly, backpacks can be as harmful as they are helpful. They can cause back and neck pain and, over time, permanent injury. To help avoid physical problems, Dr. Reuben tells parents, "Select a backpack that's compatible with your child's size, one that he or she can lift comfortably. Teach your child to bend at the knees when lifting a backpack and to use both straps to properly distribute weight. And don't allow your child to overpack."

With a little forethought and careful preparation, the transition back to school can be a smooth, pleasant one for both parent and child. The goal, after all, is to gracefully ease your child from a relaxed summer vacation into the demanding structure of a new academic year.

To learn more about topics related to this media release, visit Pennsylvania Medicine, the Pennsylvania Medical Society's online patient magazine, at http://www.pennsylvaniamedicine.com. Recommended reading includes:

• "The 'Super Germs' Are Here," March/April 2001
• "Why Are Our Children Getting Fat?" Winter 2001
• "Sports Injury Prevention," Fall 2000
• "Helmets Save Lives," Fall 2000
• "Kids & Allergies Don't Mix," Summer 2000

The Pennsylvania Medical Society, headquartered in Harrisburg, has advocated for patients and their doctors for more than 150 years. Since its beginning, the Society has represented its members throughout the commonwealth on issues that directly affect patient care. Today, the organization continues to promote a strong patient-doctor relationship in the delivery of health care. To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit its Web site at http://www.pamedsoc.org.

CONTACT: http://www.pennsylvaniamedicine.com

Date: August 7, 2001