Health Tip: Stifle Back-to-School Allergy and Asthma Problems
Going back to school with asthma and allergies means dealing with pollens, molds and other allergens that contaminate the air during autumn.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology offers these suggestions to help prevent allergy and asthma flares in your child:
- Have your child visit the doctor before school starts to make sure symptoms are well-controlled.
- Give a copy of your child's treatment plan to the school staff, which should be familiar with your child's triggers and medications.
- With the pediatrician's approval, make sure your child is vaccinated for seasonal flu and swine flu.
- Make sure your child carries an inhaler at all times, and an epinephrine kit if the child has life-threatening allergies.
- Talk to your child about what triggers symptoms (such as exercise or chalkboard dust), and make sure he or she knows to avoid them.
- Check out the school and look for any potential problems, such as cafeteria foods that could be dangerous to your child.
Health Tip: Choosing a Backpack
Along with pens, paper and notebooks, for many youngsters, a backpack is a back-to-school necessity.
The U.S. National Safety Council offers these safety guidelines for selecting a backpack:
- Look for features that offer better support, comfort and safety.
- Choose a backpack with padding in the back to minimize pressure.
- Opt for a backpack that has belts around the hip and chest to more evenly distribute the contents.
- A backpack with lots of compartments is better, as it also helps evenly distribute the weight of school supplies.
- Look for compression straps at the bottom or side of the backpack to bring the contents closer to the back.
- Look for reflective material so your child is easier to see if walking in the dark.
No comments:
Post a Comment