Almost everyone with a full time job will be spending more time at work than at home. You will most likely see your coworkers more than anyone else during the year. The same is true with many students. They will be spending more time at school than at their home. It is the responsibility of the school nurse to make sure that each student is safe and healthy while attending school.
Parents, as well as the school registered nurse, have a responsibility to educate their child about how to stay healthy throughout the year. Below is a list of things that school nurses should tell parents about their child’s health.
Keep Children Home When They Are Sick
If they are sick, keep them home. Yes, it’s very difficult to have your child stay home when they are sick, especially if you are working a full time job. It’s important for your child to not spread the illness to other classmates by coming into school. You will want to check school guidelines when deciding whether or not to send your child to school. Keeping them home also allows the child to recover in an environment that doesn’t expose them to other germs as easily.
Hand Washing is Essential to Student Health
Hand washing can prevent a lot of illnesses. It’s up to the parents to teach their children good hand washing habits. Teach the child to wash their hands before every meal. It’s a difficult habit to push on children, but an essential one.
Make Sure Children Are Dressed For The Weather
It is very possible for students to get frostbite from the time it takes them to walk from the school bus to the school doors. It’s up to the parents to make sure that their child has the proper gear on. When weather permits, most schools will allow outdoor recess. If the student isn’t properly dressed for the weather, they may not be able to attend recess. Parents will want to check clothing for rips, broken zippers, holes, and any other short comings on the clothing.
Choose A Healthy School Lunch
It’s not always easy to choose a healthy lunch, especially if it’s left up to the student. I remember having pizza almost every day for lunch when I was in school. Schools today have much more variety when it comes to healthy food. Parents should preach the importance of having a healthy school lunch. Children are constantly growing, and having a healthy eating lifestyle will foster that growth. It might be a good idea to look over the school lunch menu with your child the night before to insure healthy choices.
These are just a few of the things that school nurses can tell parents to do in order to help with student health. Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments section below.