Health & Wellness

'Tis the season for hugs, kisses, handshakes and the FLU! Check out these five fast facts about the flu, and learn why there's still time to protect your family from this miserable—and sometimes very serious—illness. 5 facts about the flu Cold or flu? Tips to tell them apart Find out if you need a flu shot Got asthma? Get a flu shot 6 ways to avoid illness at school Helping kids avoid the flu Infographic: How to set up a sickroom Infographic: How the flu spreads

Learn more: http://prowellness.vmhost.psu.edu/test-flu-iq Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

• Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time
• How to Quit Smoking or Smokeless Tobacco
• Smoking Habits Quiz
• Helping a Smoker Quit – Do’s and Don’ts

Reference: https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/great-american-smokeout.html

According to a new global report a woman in the U.S. has about a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer sometime during her life. Find out the other risk factors and how to increase your chances of being in the 7 out of 8 women who never develop the disease.

• Four steps to avoid breast cancer
• What to do if you find a lump
• Should you have the BRCA test?
• Quiz: How much do you know about breast cancer?
• Infographic: Steps to a successful mammogram
• How to help when your partner has breast cancer

Learn More: http://prowellness.vmhost.psu.edu/happenings/news

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>

Truancy vs. Chronic Absence; what is the difference?

DID YOU KNOW?

• Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
• Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
• Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few   weeks.
• Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
• Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school—and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.

 

DON’T WAIT -----------VACCINATE NOW
FOR ATTENDANCE IN ALL GRADES

4 doses of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis*  (1 dose on or after the 4th birthday) 4 doses of polio (4th dose on or after 4th birthday and at least 6 months after previous dose given)** 2 doses of measles, mumps, rubella *** 3 doses of hepatitis B 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine or history of diseas *Usually given as DTP or DTaP or if medically advisable DT or Td  ** A fourth dose is not necessary if the third dose was administered at age 4 years or older and at least 6 months after the previous dose. ***Usually given as MMR

FOR ATTENDANCE IN 7^th GRADE:

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap)
• 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)

 FOR ATTENDANCE IN 12^th GRADE:

• 2^nd dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) at age 16 or older.

ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, a child must have had a least one dose of the above vaccinations or risk exclusion. If additional doses are still needed, the dose(s) must be received within the FIRST FIVE (5) DAYS OF SCHOOL, if medically appropriate,-NEW or risk exclusion.

These requirements allow for medical reasons and religious/philosophical beliefs.  If your child is exempt from immunizations, he/she may be removed from school during an outbreak.

Pennsylvania’s school immunization requirements can be found in 28 PA.CODE CH.23 (School Immunization)

Contact your health care provider or 1-877 PA HEALTH for more information

Reference: http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Immunizations/Documents/Don't%20Wait.%20Vaccinate%20Flyer.pdf

 

To help your family get ready, well before the first bell rings, check out these tips for packing healthy lunches, choosing a sturdy backpack and helping your child's school year get off to a good start.

• Back to school: A parent’s checklist
• 8 ways to ease back-to-school anxieties
• Infographic: Backpack basics
• Happy packing: Lunches from drab to fab
• School lunches: Myth or fact quiz
• 10 tips to help kids succeed at school

Learn More at http://prowellness.vmhost.psu.edu/happenings/news

Reference: Penn State PRO Wellness <PROwellness@pennstatehealth.psu.edu>