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For Immediate Release:
September 07, 2010
LOS ANGELES - With the start of the school year just around the corner, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has tips on how to keep your child safe and healthy so that they can focus on their studies and thrive, both at home and school.
"If you teach children healthy habits now, they will stick with those habits long-term," said Jonathan E. Fielding, MD, MPH, Director of Public Health and Health Officer. "Give your kids the head-start they need to live long, healthy and productive lives."
Stop Disease in its Tracks: Vaccinate!
School season means that your child will come into contact with hundreds of other children daily, providing them plenty of opportunity to pick up whatever illnesses are going around. Teach your children healthy habits, such as washing their hands before eating and after using the restroom, and covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Make sure that their vaccinations are up-to-date.
"Right now, a big concern is pertussis, also known as 'whooping cough,'" Dr. Fielding said. "Statewide, the numbers of pertussis cases have reached epidemic levels, and it is important that children and those that 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 an adolescent-adult pertussis booster vaccine (Tdap) for:
Flu and cold season will also begin shortly. This year's flu vaccine will include protection against H1N1 and other flu strains that are likely to start circulating in schools and elsewhere. Influenza can cause students, teachers and others to miss important days of school and work and, in some cases, can lead to serious complications for those who become sick. While colds are not as serious as influenza and there is no vaccine against colds, the chance of catching or giving a cold is reduced by hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes.
Residents are encouraged to first contact their regular doctor for recommended vaccinations. Those who do not have a regular healthcare provider or insurance coverage for vaccines can call the LA County Information line at 2-1-1 or visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip for referrals to providers and community sites offering free or low-cost immunizations.
Everyone should practice these healthy habits to help prevent the spread of any illness:
After-School Snacks can be Healthy
People who eat regular meals, beginning with a healthy breakfast, are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals. Healthy snacks should be incorporated into a child's diet as a way to satisfy the hunger of a growing child, and to provide the vitamins and nutrients a body needs.
"Many people incorrectly believe that snacking is a bad thing," Dr. Fielding said. "But if you're careful about how much and what you eat, snacking can be a key component to a healthy diet."
Healthy Snacking Ideas:
Stay Active, but Stay Safe
Many parents allow their children to walk or ride a bicycle to school, which can be a great way for them to get exercise. However, it is important to teach kids about pedestrian and bicycle safety before turning them loose on their own. From 2004 to 2006, there were 16 children (ages 5-11) killed in pedestrian accidents, and 1,824 children were injured.
There are "rules of the road" for pedestrians, just as there are for motorists. Take the time to make sure your children understand these potentially life-saving rules:
You can help make it safer to walk to your local school by:
Between 2004 and 2006, three children were killed in bicycling accidents, and 915 children were injured. "These tragic deaths and injuries are, in most cases, preventable," Dr. 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 when riding a bicycle."
For more information on pedestrian and bicycle safety, please visit the LA County Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention Program website at http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ivpp.
The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. Through a variety of programs, community partnerships and services, Public Health oversees environmental health, disease control, and community and family health. Public Health comprises more than 4,000 employees and has an annual budget exceeding $750 million. To learn more about Public Health and the work we do, please visit http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov, visit our YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/lapublichealth, or follow us on Twitter: LAPublicHealth.
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