Back to School Tips From Top Doc at Health Department
``Right now, a big concern is pertussis, also known as `whooping cough'''
Tuesday, Sep 7, 2010 | Updated 10:48 PM PST
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offered tips Tuesday to keep children safe and healthy as they head back to school.
``If you teach children healthy habits now, they will stick with those habits long-term,'' said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, the county's top health official.
School season means that children come into contact with hundreds of other children daily, providing plenty of opportunity to pick up germs, Fielding said. He urged parents to make sure vaccinations are up-to-date.
``Right now, a big concern is pertussis, also known as `whooping cough,''' Fielding said.
``Statewide, the numbers of pertussis cases have reached epidemic levels, and it is important that children and those who care for them, including teachers, aides, school officials, and adults at home, are appropriately protected against this vaccine-preventable disease.''
In addition to the usual series of childhood pertussis vaccinations, the
California Department of Public Health now recommends a booster vaccine for:
-- anyone 7 years or older who is not fully immunized, including those
more than 64 years old; women of childbearing age;
-- women of childbearing age; and
-- anyone who cares for infants, especially those under 3 months old.
Flu and cold season will also start soon. This year's flu vaccine protects against H1N1 and other flu strains likely to circulate in schools.
Fielding asked parents to encourage children to wash hands often and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or a sleeve to keep cold and flu germs from spreading.
Starting the day with a good breakfast and eating healthy snacks was another of Fielding's tips.
``Many people incorrectly believe that snacking is a bad thing,'' Fielding said. ``But if you're careful about how much and what you eat, snacking can be a key component to a healthy diet.''
Riding a bicycle or walking to school can be a great way to fit exercise into a child's day, suggested Fielding. However, he cautioned that parents should teach kids about pedestrian and bicycle safety before turning them loose on their own.
Between 2004 and 2006, 16 children in Los Angeles County were killed in pedestrian accidents and three in bicycling accidents.
``These tragic deaths ... are, in most cases, preventable,'' Fielding said. ``Ride with the flow of traffic, stay visible and -- if your child is under the age of 9 -- be sure they ride on a sidewalk. And always wear a helmet.''
More details for parents, including referrals to free or low-cost vaccinations, can be found at www.publichealth.lacounty.gov.
``Give your kids the head start they need to live long, healthy and productive lives,'' Fielding said.
