Back to School: Protect Your Child This School Year

The start of a new school year is always exciting.  Teachers have worked long hours to make sure their classrooms are just right for the first day, and bright bulletin boards welcome kids to their class “home” for the next 10 months.  Here in Polk County, school started back for the 2016-2017 year on Monday, and our local schools were once again filled with smiling faces and the noise of students ready to learn.  Without a doubt though, a good number of these kids will miss at least one day of school sometime in the next few weeks thanks to a nasty, little culprit known as “The Germ”.

Germs are as commonplace in schools as pencils and crayons, and they can lead to anything from the common cold to a full-blown flu virus.  Unfortunately, these sicknesses often lead to missing school, and what’s worse, is they usually end up being passed form child to child until everyone is affected.

So, how can you protect your child this year?

• Hand washing!  Hand washing is key to preventing the spread of germs of all kinds.  Make sure your child is trained on proper hand washing technique such as the use of soap and warm water, and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds.  Help your child’s teacher promote healthy hand washing habits by donating kid-friendly soap and/or any approved hand sanitizers to your child’s classroom.
• Keep your (sick) child home or arrange for alternative care options until they are well.  If you notice a sniffly nose, the start of a cough, or red eyes, don’t send your child off to school.  If you suspect an illness, not only does your child need to rest so as to recover more quickly, but you also need to keep the other children in mind.  Sickness spreads quickly and easily among kids, and keeping your kiddo at home means the germs won’t run rampant.
• Help support a healthy classroom environment.  Ask your child’s teacher if you can volunteer to help clean the classroom on an afternoon, or if you are unable to donate time, perhaps you can donate cleaning supplies to his or her room to make the job a bit easier.  Cleaning wipes, paper towels, disinfectant sprays, etc. can get pricey, and many teachers have to purchase these out of pocket.  Having them donated is sure to be appreciated by any teacher or any age group.
• Teach your child healthy habits and how to avoid both spreading and receiving germs.  Make sure they know to cover their mouths/noses when they cough/sneeze, to steer clear of sharing food, eating utensils, straws, etc. with friends, and to avoid close facial contact with classmates.

When the inevitable happens, and your child does come down with a school illness, make sure you are covered and ready to head to your local doctor.  Having your insurance up-to-date, and knowing exactly what is/isn’t covered in your policy will make an already stressful trip much less of a headache.  Not sure if your child is covered under your existing policy, or if your current doctors are in your network?  We can help you find the plan that best fits the needs of your family.  Stop in our Winter Haven office or give us a call.

Hoping for a successful (and healthy) school year for all of our local Polk County students and teachers!