By Joanna May
It’s that time again! Back to school for Lowcountry kids, where they spend an average of 28% of their day. Considering how much time children spend inside the walls of their school, here are some points parents need to know about before the school year starts.
School supplies and uniforms aren’t the only things to prepare before a new school year. Keep these factors in mind for the 2022-2023 school year: immunizations, nutrition, medications, sleep, handwashing, and crisis drills.
Shots! Shots! Shots!
Immunization requirement changes have been made for this 2022-2023 school year, adding 2nd grade to the list of students required to have the 2-dose Hepatitis A vaccine. As of 2020, all students entering Kindergarten were required to have this Hepatitis A series. Why? The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) originally listed the Hepatitis A vaccine as a requirement for preschoolers and kindergartners back in 2020, in response to the recent increase in Hepatitis A cases in South Carolina.
In addition, 8th grade has been added to the requirement for two doses of the varicella vaccine, and 10th grade has been added to the requirement for three doses of the polio vaccine.
If you just moved to SC from another state that did not require the Hepatitis A series, get the first now before school starts, and a second Hepatitis A vaccine 6 months from the first.
What’s the latest about peanut allergies?
There are approximately two children in every classroom with food allergies. Over 15% of children in the United States who have food allergies have had a reaction while at school. As far as peanuts, it is up to your child’s specific school and classroom on whether or not he/she may bring peanut products to school. For the food allergy sufferers, there might be hope on the horizon! A 2022 study performed on children in Australia showed that 74% of children who received an experimental immunotherapy went into allergy remission. The authors of this study explain that this oral allergy “treatment” causes the allergen-specific immune cells in each child to stop signaling, which essentially “turns off” the allergy. Let’s hope this treatment is effective, becomes approved, and makes its way to the United States!
Food additives and asthma
Did you know asthma can be linked to junk food?
There are additives called sulfites found in many fruit juices, soft drinks, canned foods, and potato chips. Sulfites help food and drinks maintain their color and prevent spoiling. Thankfully, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the use of sulfites in fresh fruits and vegetables, but they can still be found in processed and canned foods. If a food or drink contains sulfites, it is supposed to be written on the label. These sneaky sulfites have been reported to trigger asthma attacks. Sulfites have also been associated with allergic reactions and deaths among people diagnosed with asthma. Check the label of your child’s favorite snack, especially if they have asthma.
Practice the proper way to use a prescribed inhaler at home, so your child will be able to correctly use it in an emergency at school.
Sleep is so important!
With each child participating in what seems like 5 different sports, homework, family time, and playtime/TikTok, how are there enough hours in a day to get everything done? For kids ages 6-12, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends 9-12 hours of sleep every night! For example, if your child needs to be at school at 7:45am, and needs to wake up at around 6:45am, that means they need to be asleep by 8:45pm. For kids ages 13-18, the AAP recommends just 8-10 hours of sleep.
There are several new studies published by the AAP which report that children as young as kindergarten are affected by their duration of sleep. Kindergartners who sleep at least 10 hours per night have a smoother transition into kindergarten and perform better at school.
Each night that the children who were participating in these studies got 10 hours of sleep, they had a proportionate increase in learning engagement, ability to focus, and academic outcomes, per their teachers. The results of these studies suggest that 10 solid hours of sleep should start to be encouraged in preschool, making the transition to kindergarten a seamless one. If you are looking for a way to improve your child’s kindergarten adjustment, promoting sleep duration might be a strategy worth trying.
Keep hands clean
Say it louder for the people in the back, “Hand Hygiene!!!”
As adults, we know to wash our hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing, sneezing, or wiping noses. Children can hopefully remain healthy enough to stay at school if they practice great hand hygiene. Children should know the importance of covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and then wash their hands afterward. If they don’t have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their elbow, not into their hands. Children (and adults) should also avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth, as germs are easily spread this way. Please help schools out by reinforcing good hygiene at home!
Crisis Drills
Be aware of when and how your child’s school will be performing crisis drills. Schools across the country have implemented crisis drills (active shooter drills) along with standard fire and tornado drills. The AAP suggests that more research be completed regarding the best way to prepare for a shooting event. The AAP recommends that schools give plenty of notice to parents, students, and staff before performing a crisis drill. They also recommend that schools keep in mind the distress and anxiety these crisis drills can cause to children. In a nutshell, the AAP calls for a best practice to be identified in order to effectively prepare everyone for an event, without causing anyone unnecessary distress along the way.
# # #
Joanna May is a Beaufort native and has been a Registered Nurse for 11 years. She lives in Beaufort with her husband, Blake May, and two children, Brooks (4) and Lola (3). She graduated from USC Beaufort in 2011, has explored many avenues of nursing since then, and is now using her experience to write, with the hope of sharing a wide array of information with all readers.
Sources:
Researchers discover immune system changes that support peanut allergy remission in children, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, May 26, 2022. https://www.mcri.edu.au/news-stories/researchers-discover-immune-system-changes-support-peanut-allergy-remission-children
Asthma and Food Allergies, American Academy of Pediatrics, April 6, 2021, https://healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/allergies-asthma/Pages/Asthma-and-Food-Allergies.aspx
Childcare and School Vaccine Requirements, SC DHEC https://scdhec.gov/health/vaccinations/childcare-school-vaccine-requirements
Participation of Children and Adolescents in Live Crisis Drills and Exercises, American Academy of Pediatrics, September 1, 2021, https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/ 146/3/e2020015503/36710/Participation-of-Children-and-Adolescents-in-Live?searchresult=1
