Keeping Kids Healthy at the Start of the School Year – Tips from the Doctors at South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL

Keeping Kids Healthy at the Start of the School Year Tampa FLThis year, the back-to-school season looks a bit different. There’s no question that school has always played a vital role in meeting your child’s educational needs. But, it is also central to his or her well-being—and more so now than ever before. Amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, many children are understandably craving a return to some sense of normalcy, especially since their spring semester was abruptly cut short last year. They miss seeing their friends, they miss engaging in sports and other activities, and they miss going to school.

If your child is heading back to in-person classes, keep in mind that he or she will be in contact with many other children and adults. Along with the close quarters of school comes the inevitable exposure to many germs and viruses, possibly including the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. While there is no way to completely shield your family from the numerous health threats out there, there are some steps you can take to keep your loved ones as healthy as possible during these challenging times.

Staying Healthy in the Face of COVID-19

To help you and your child start the school year off on the right foot, the doctors at South Tampa Immediate Care offer the following tips:

  • Get a school physical – This is the best way to confirm that your child has a clean bill of health before returning to school.
  • Emphasize good hygiene – Remind your child to wash his or her hands thoroughly and often throughout the school day, including before meals, after using a restroom, and after recess. Give him or her a small bottle of hand sanitizer to carry and use when soap and water are not available.
  • Encourage healthy eating – Pack your child a nutritious lunch every day to help keep his or her immune system in tip-top shape.
  • Dress appropriately – Make sure your child wears or brings suitable clothing to school based on the weather forecast and any activities he or she has planned for the day.
  • Discourage the sharing of personal items – Each morning, check your child’s backpack to make sure he or she has all necessary school supplies. This will lessen the chance that he or she will need to borrow an item from a classmate.

As always, South Tampa Immediate Care is here for you when you need us. You can just walk in with your child if you need to see a provider for a last-minute sports physical, fast and effective sore throat treatment, or any other non-emergency health-related issue. We offer a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries during extended hours, which means you can stop by during the day, in the evening, or on a weekend without an appointment.

To learn more about the services we offer at our walk-in health care clinic in Tampa, FL, please contact us today.