Rx for back to school

Rx for back to

school

It's back-to-school time!

New schedules, new friends, and new activities replace summer play. Your

child will be out of the house for hours at a time-and away from

your care. Here are some tips to help make sure he or she stays healthy

at school.

Starting kindergarten? This first year is the toughest-everything's

new, and some of it's scary. Before the first day of school, your

child must visit a pediatrician or clinic to be vaccinated against serious

illness.

Try to make the experience as painless as possible, and prepare an after-vaccination

treat for your brave child.

Most states require that children be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus,

pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps, rubella, Haemophilus influenzae

type b, polio, and hepatitis B. Some school districts may also recommend

hepatitis A and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines. Check with your pediatrician,

school, or local health department to find out which vaccines are required

in your area.

Asthma, allergies, and other chronic conditions

If your child has asthma, diabetes, or any other chronic condition, tell

his or her teacher as well as the school administrator's office.

If your child has a life-threatening allergy, such as an allergy to bee

stings or peanuts, speak with all the adults who will be in contact with

your child.

Impress upon them-and your child-how to prevent a problem and

what to do in an emergency. For example, ask your child's teacher

to inspect treats before giving them to your child, and warn the other

parents to avoid peanuts and peanut butter when sending in goodies for

the class to share.

Schools usually allow children to carry medications such as asthma inhalers

or bee sting kits to deal with emergencies. Check with your child's

school to find out whether they have rules regarding the use of these

medicines. If this is the first time your child will be using a medicine

such as an inhaler without your supervision, make sure that he or she

has practiced using it properly.|

Aspirin-free zone

To combat the abuse of drugs, many schools don't allow children to

use or carry any medications. These rules can cover all prescription and

nonprescription drugs-antibiotics, drugs for treating attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder, or even aspirin for a headache. It's a good

idea to ask about the policy when your child first enters a new school,

so that you'll be prepared in case of illness or injury. Be sure

to tell your child never to take any medications to school, except those

needed and approved for his or her use.

If your child needs to take medicine during school hours, call the school's

main office to check the school policy. If your school allows your child

to take medicine at school, leave it in the original pharmacy-labeled

container and include a signed letter saying that you authorize its use.

For prescription drugs, include a copy of the physician's written

prescription order form with clear instructions that explain how and when

to use the drug. The school nurse or other authorized person can then

give your child the medications as needed. You might want to ask your

doctor to write extra prescriptions for medicines that your child needs

both at home and during school.

Accidents will happen

Accidents and emergencies happen even at school. Give your daytime phone

number (and wireless phone number if possible) to your child's teacher

so that you can be reached in an emergency, and make sure the school has

a backup phone number for another adult who knows your child.

We'll have more tips for dealing with children's health through

the school year. And if you're not excited about getting the kids

off to school, remember that winter vacation is only a few months away!

Holly Vance, Pharm.D., is a clinical pharmacy specialist for drugstore.com,

the leading online pharmacy. Readers can find more answers to health questions

online at drugstore.com's pharmacy at www.drugstore.com.