School Health

Parent Tips

Back to school child health tips for parents (64 KB)

Helpful hints for parents

• Encourage appropriate dress for the weather.
  
  
• Breakfast is a must; it feeds the brain and keeps away those early morning stomachaches.
  
  
• Check your child in the morning for any signs of illness. Sick children are best cared for at home if they have or have had a fever, vomiting, diarrhea in the past 24 hours or asthma attack in the past 12 hours. Charles County Public Schools cannot stop the spread of illnesses if sick children are sent to school.
  
  
• Keep emergency cards current. For your child's safety, your emergency contacts and phone numbers should be up to date. Your emergency contacts should be available to pick up your sick child from school if you are unavailable during the school day in a timely manner, health rooms are not large enough to keep students for an extended period of time.
  
  
• Rest helps your child stay well and be a better student.
  
  
• Keep the school nurse informed about your child's medical condition.
   
• For young students an extra set of clothes can be kept in his or her backpack or classroom for emergency changes.
  

Important First-Aid Items

The following is a list of important first-aid items for the home:

• Thermometer
  
  
• Fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprophen (Motrin)
  
  
• Antiseptic solutions – at a minimum clean wounds with soap and water
  
  
• Band aids