Parents and guardians in Anne Arundel County can visit the “Parent’s Guide to School Health” to find valuable information on school health and services for their family during the 2019-2020 school year.
The “Parent’s Guide to School Health” webpage provides information on safe backpacking, required immunizations, vision and hearing screening, and nutritious easy-to-prepare school lunch ideas. Wondering if you can send your child to school when they are under-the-weather or just not feeling right? There are also recommendations to help parents decide when children should stay home due to an illness. Itchy scalp and worried about head lice? The page has you covered there too, along with other important resources about bullying, keeping kids smoke free, mediction forms, and other topics – including a Back to School Mental Health Tool Kit. The webpage also links to a directory of school nurses providing care in Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
In addition to the “Parent’s Guide for School Health”, here is a Back-to-school health checklist to ensure you, your child, his healthcare providers and the school are all on the same page when it comes to your child’s health:
• Organize your child’s medical history records and emergency medical contact information. Provide copies of this information to your child’s school and any day care providers with instructions to take it with them to the emergency department if your child is sick or injured. The form should include information related to prescription medications, medical problems, or previous surgeries as well as pertinent family history and emergency contacts. Have medication forms prepared and review them with the school nurse.
• Coordinate with the school nurse and your child’s physician to develop action plans for any health issues, such as asthma or food allergies. Communicate these plans to all appropriate care givers.
• Schedule medical and dental check-ups before school starts. Some children will need immunizations. Consider vision and hearing tests, since impairment can adversely affect learning. Consider a sports check-up if your child will be playing in sports.
• Review and do a dry run with your child of his or her route to school, explaining potential hazards along the way. If your child walks to school, make sure he or she understands potential traffic dangers.
• If your child takes the bus, establish a safe, visible pick up/drop off spot, preferably with a group of children and in an area where they can be clearly seen by adults. If your child drives to school, make sure he or she obeys all laws and wears seatbelts.
• Make sure your children know how to telephone for help. Post emergency contact numbers by every telephone in your home and stored in your child’s cell phone if they carry one. Have them practice how to call 911 or the local emergency number and give their names, address and a brief of the problem.
Lastly, develop a family emergency plan in case something happens on the way to (or from) and while at school. Be aware of the emergency and evacuation plans for your children’s schools. Ensure the school has your current cell phone number in case an emergency text is sent out by the school system.
