
It’s time to head back to school and you want your kids to be healthy. The Health Care District of Palm Beach County staffs more than 200 school nurses in nearly 170 public schools to keep students healthy and ready to learn.
Here are 10 tips to help you and your kids get ready for the back to school season:
Print out and post these tips on your refrigerator so you can refer to them often!
Back to School Health Tips
Back to School Health Tips |
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Establish a bedtime routine
The week before your child returns to school, schedule time to ensure at
least eight hours of sleep. Limit social media time and the use of
electronics at least two hours prior to bed time.
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Eat Healthy Meals
A vital component to a child’s focus and energy is good nutrition.
Parents should allow enough time in the morning so their children can
eat a nutritious breakfast at home. Review the school lunch menu to make
healthy choices or pack a healthy lunch to go.
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Make a doctor's appointment
Before school starts, parents should make an appointment with their
child’s doctor in order to get a signed physician’s authorization form
for any medication or treatments that the student may need while at
school.
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Update Immunizations
It’s important for your child to get a physical over the summer and get
the necessary immunizations. If your child will be participating in
sports, get the guidelines from your school with the appropriate sports
forms to be filled out.
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Update changes in child's health condition
Parents must update any medical changes on their child’s registration
form or with their school. Notify the school nurse if your child has a
known medical condition or any other health concerns.
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Bring needed medication to school
A parent must bring in their child’s prescribed and over-the-counter
medication with the label matching the current physician’s order. All
medication must be in the original unopened container, not expired and
labeled with the child’s name. Bring in a current picture of your child,
required for dispensing medication.
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Meet with your school nurse
The week before your child returns to school meet with the school
nurse and discuss any special care needs. Bring completed forms from
your healthcare provider with parent and doctor’s signatures so that the
appropriate training can be done.
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Fill out parent questionnaire/forms
It is important to sign and return the necessary forms to the school
nurse to get the child’s medical information so an appropriate care plan
can be established for each student.
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Update contact information
If there should be an emergency situation, it is important to be able to
reach the child’s parents quickly. Please make sure to have phone
numbers and email addresses up-to-date with your child’s school.
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Notify on sick leave
When a child is absent due to medical reasons, please inform the school
nurse as early as possible and provide the diagnosis and any changes in
medical information for the school’s records.
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Print out the following Parent Guides for more helpful back-to-school information:
Parent Guide Too Sick for School?
Parent Guide for Medications at School
Check out three of our School Nurses profiled in the back to school edition of the Palm Beach Post:
Elle More Williams Parker, School Nurse at Pahokee Senior High School
Linda Nickle, School Nurse at Sunset Palms Elementary School
Carlene Sehon, RN, BSN, School Health Supervisor