Better health, take charge

Remember back-to-school checkups, immunizations

What you should know

Back-to-school time requires planning by parents and students.

A child's health affects the ability to learn and participate in activities.

A back-to-school check-up and immunizations are very important for several reasons. First, certain shots are required before a child can go to school. Go to health.state.tn.us/CEDS/ required.htm for the required list. Second, check-ups and screenings can identify problems that might keep a child from learning. Screenings may include tests for vision, hearing, and behavior problems. Third, a check-up is very important if a child plans to play sports or enjoy another physical activity like cheerleading or dance.

Memphis City Schools Regional Health Clinics serve all schools. These clinics can help students with blood pressure, dental issues, vision, lab and hearing tests. They screen children for crooked spines (scoliosis). The clinics are assisted by the professional staff of the Memphis Health Center. School clinics follow up on minor problems such as earaches, in-school injuries or health problems identified during schools hours. They refer children to doctors in the Memphis area for needed follow-up care.

Despite requirements, many children in the Memphis area don't get the recommended shots and screenings. Local school officials are working with health care providers to encourage parents to take a more active role in this issue.

Many kids go to school with health problems. In Memphis, school screenings have shown that nearly 20 percent of kids had uncorrected vision problems. About 8 percent had poorly controlled asthma. Many students were overweight or obese. More than 78 percent of high school students ate fruits and vegetables less than five times a day. (2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Sports physicals are required by many school teams. Parents and schools want to be sure that a student athlete is healthy enough for an intense sport. A physician's report can also let a coach know if a student has any special needs. A check-up might help a parent learn if exercise will make an old injury worse. A check-up might also show if chronic problems such as asthma or diabetes need to be managed differently with more activity.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that backpacks be no more than 10 to 20 percent of a child's weight. Backpacks should have a padded back and two wide, padded shoulder straps.

What you should do

Make sure that your child's school emergency contact form is accurate and current.

Make a health checklist of things to do before school starts. These may include getting immunizations, hearing or vision tests, or a sports physical. It might also include getting a rolling backpack for heavy books. Set an official bedtime to be sure a child gets the recommended number of sleep hours for his or her age.

Let your child's school know if your child has a special health need. Most schools have a form to instruct school staff to give needed medication. Report if your child has allergies, epilepsy or another chronic condition.

Be sure your child eats a nutritious breakfast before school. If lunch is provided by the school, teach your child what to choose at the school lunch counter.

Schedule an appointment early with a pediatrician. Don't wait until registration time when pediatricians' offices are overwhelmed with last-minute checkups.

Get to know the health services available at your child's school.

Listen to recommendations from your child's teacher, school or doctor about the care your child needs.

Understand when your insurance can help your child. Some schools assist in enrolling children in TennCare.

Keep a record of the shots that your child has had. This record will be requested by schools even through college.

If your child will be playing sports, arrange a thorough sports physical. Be sure that the physical includes an exam of the heart, other organs, and joints. A blood test can also provide important information, such as whether your child is anemic.