The first week of August is always a little depressing because summer feels over when fall sport practices start and some kids are even back to school.   Where did summer go? While buying backpacks and pencils don’t forget a tune up on your child’s health.

Dr. Deb’s Back to School Health Tips

1. Don’t Wait to Vaccinate
Each year, about 50,000 adults die from diseases that can be prevented by vaccinations. Children in closed in classrooms or living in dorms are particularly prone to infections. Check here to know your child’s requirements but the following are important vaccinations before college.
Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4)
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series

Flu

Tdap booster added pertussis protection to tetanus and diphtheria starting in 2005 to prevent whooping cough that has skyrocketed. Most children will be required to have this vaccine before starting 7th grade but children going off to college should be certain that they received it prior to as they have missed that cut off. Td should be repeated every 10 years if Tdap has already been given.

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College freshman living in dorms are at particular risk for Meningococcal disease and that is why the MCV4 is mandated by many states. 1 in 10 people who get the disease will die from it. Check your state to see its requirements.

HPV is rampant affecting 80% of sexually active people and may lead to genital warts and several types of cancer of the skin, vulva, anus, penis and cervix.

Many adults are not up to date on vaccines so click here for more information about vaccines the importance of adult vaccines.

Take this quiz to see take a quiz to find out what vaccinations you might need.

2) Clearly, a Professional Vision Screen

Vision is always changing so have your child’s vision screened annually but have a professional vision evaluation by an eye specialist before starting preschool, middle school, high school and college. Between 2% and 5% of the population is legally blind in one eye and your child may not realize that they are only using one eye. Vision correction can prevent headaches, fatigue and improve classroom performance

3) Keep the Personal Personal
Washing hands with soap and water or 60% alcohol hand sanitizer and covering mouths are still the most important steps to prevent all infections. Remind your Wear flip-flops in the shower to prevent fungal infections and don’t share towels, combs, razors or bed sheets. Locker room infections caused by MRSA (methicillin resistant staph aurues) have even caused death in college athletes. Click here to learn more about MRSA prevention.

4) Mental Health Boost
Depression and other mental illness usually start between ages 15 though the 20s. The stress of school and being away from home can trigger depression in children especially with a family history. Talk to your kids about warning signs and click here to learn more. Regular sleep, a healthy diet and exercise are critical to keep all students feeling their best. LIMIT SCREEN TIME to 2 hours per day as recommended by the Academy of Pediatrics but minimally take phones and laptops after a certain hour so they get enough sleep. Teach kids to segregate study vs. social time so they focus on homework exclusively then take a social media break and not study, facebook, text, and watch TV all at the same time. Forget the all nighters, studies show that your need sleep to perform your best.

Here is a wonderful Family Media pledge to keep media under control

Talk about warning signs and have them see a professional if the have:

Extreme mood swings

Feelings of sadness or hopelessness,

A loss of interest in things they once loved,

Loss of appetite or binging

Significant changes in sleep patterns.

5) Sex, Drugs & Alcohol

Talking about the consequences of sex, drugs and alcohol should be an ongoing conversation from a young age. Start with the dangers but more importantly come up with a plan for when (not if) they will encounter a situation where they do not feel comfortable.

Have a secret sentence or text that they can send to you when they want to be picked up at a party but do not want to be embarrassed or pressured. (How is Grandpa feeling?)

Remind your kids to make sure they see who pours the drinks (even non alcoholic) as they can be spiked with rohypnol or the date rape drug.

Use college escort service.

Sexual expectations may also be different in college and make sure they do not put themselves in vulnerable situations. Have them discuss at the beginning of a date, what, if any sexual expectations either of them have. Talk to them about keeping themselves safe as they are in a high-risk group for sexually transmitted diseases and what they would do if something they had not planned for were to happen like emergency contraception.

Take this Sexual Assertiveness Quiz and read about date rape prevention.

Alcohol contributes to the 3 most common causes of death in teenagers, accidental injury, homicides and suicides. Learn more about substance abuse prevention at the Minnesota Institute of Public Health.

Enjoy the rest of summer and always keep the conversation going with your kids to keep them safe and healthy this school year!

Dr. Deb