Safe at School: A Little Prevention Can Help Parents Keep Kids Safe, Secure and Healthy

As children start the school year, diving headlong into sports, various social activities and classroom learning, parents have plenty to think about. Sure, every kid catches a cold once in a while, or gets a few bumps and bruises. But heading back to school shouldn’t mean heading to the emergency room. With a little prevention, parents can help their children avoid getting sidelined by sports injuries and viruses.

“There are many things parents and students can do to avoid and better treat illness and injury,” says Melissa J. Wisner, MD, a pediatrician at Inova Medical Group – Ashburn. “Prevention is preferred to treating later.”

Sports Safety

Each year, more than 2.6 million children are seen in the emergency room for sports- and recreation-related injuries, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Common youth sports injuries include sprains and strains, fractures, repetitive motion injuries, heat-related illnesses and concussions.

There are several preventative measures parents can take to help their children stay safe. One of the most important steps is getting a pre-season physical exam. These can be done by your pediatrician or at your local urgent care center.

“Sports physicals are aimed at identifying any health problem that may put your child at increased risk while playing sports,” says Dr. Wisner. “Athletics can be an important part of a child’s education and it’s very important to try to minimize any health risks it may possess.”

Once the sports season begins, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends parents ensure that their child is wearing safety equipment, even during practices. Before practices and games, warm-up and cool-down exercises are important for preventing muscle injuries. Parents can send their child to school with a water bottle so he or she can stay hydrated while playing, and provide sunscreen to apply before playing outside.

Click here to find a wealth of information about preventing sports injuries on the National Institutes of Health website.

Concussion

A common injury that parents can help protect their child from is a concussion, a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts normal brain function, either temporarily or permanently. Although not all concussions are preventable, parents can help keep their child safe by ensuring they wear a properly fitting helmet that is in good condition. If an athlete hits his or her head or is jarred during play, he or she needs to know how important it is to let the coach or parent know, even if it means not playing for a period of time.

Common signs of a concussion include:

• nausea
• dizziness, temporary loss of consciousness
• headache and/or confusion
• light and sound sensitivity
• problems with concentration
• balance, memory, mood or sleep disturbance

Symptoms usually occur immediately after a concussion, but may not show up for hours or even days. Sometimes, the symptoms only appear or worsen during mental or physical activity, says Dr. Wisner.

A child with a suspected concussion should see a doctor and get both physical and cognitive rest until his or her doctor gives clearance to return to normal activities. Returning to sports too soon could result in long-term cognitive impairment and could be life-threatening.

“Concussions are a bigger deal than a lot of people realize,” says Dr. Wisner. “It is essential to be evaluated and cleared  before returning to play to prevent long-lasting complications.”

Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Concussion Clinic offers comprehensive evaluations and follow-ups, as well as baseline IMPACT testing.

Immunizations

In recent years, concerns about vaccines have caused some parents to avoid immunizing their children. While various groups have expressed fears that immunizations cause autism, brain damage, multiple sclerosis or seizures, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), none of these claims are based on fact. The studies that have raised the concerns for vaccine safety have been found to be flawed, and since their publication, numerous other studies have been unable to reproduce the concerns and have shown vaccines to be safe, Dr. Wisner says.

“Combined with basic hygiene and nutrition, vaccines are not only safe for children, they save lives across the globe,” says Dr. Wisner. “Vaccines have worked so well, people have forgotten how terrible and deadly the diseases they prevent are.”

By staying up to date with children’s immunizations, parents can give kids up to a 98 percent chance of avoiding diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox and whooping cough. The newer vaccine for cervical cancer has been shown to be effective in preventing 70 percent of cervical cancers.

To learn more about the vaccines your child needs, click here to visit the CDC website’s Immunization Schedules.

Coping with ADHD

About 4.7 million children ages 3–17 are diagnosed  with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),  a condition that makes it difficult for children to control their behavior at school, at home and in social settings. Your child may have ADHD if he or she has a hard time concentrating, is easily distracted, seems to be in constant motion, and acts and speaks without thinking.

Talk to your pediatrician if you have concerns about your child. A treatment combination of the appropriate medication and behavioral therapy can help a child better adapt to his or her environment, says Polly Panitz, MD, a behavioral and developmental pediatrician at Inova Loudoun Hospital.

“Most individuals that have ADHD will continue to have issues their entire life, but many individuals will learn coping strategies so that they are better able to be successful and it becomes less of  a disability,” she says.

Behavioral concerns

Sometimes experiences at school can have a negative impact on your child. Here are some issues that might affect your child’s behavior:

Bullying: If your child is reluctant to go to school, is anxious about attending social functions, has nightmares or is moody, he or she may be a victim of bullying behavior at school. “The first thing parents want to do is explore what’s going on with the child,” says Dr. Panitz. “Try to use reflective listening where you reflect back in a  very neutral kind of language what you’re seeing with the child and hopefully the child will then share more with you.”

Anxiety: As children begin a new grade, they may feel anxious about keeping up with new academic challenges. “Talk to the teacher first to identify what the issues are and ask for data about your child’s performance,” says Dr. Panitz. “If they continue to have concerns, call a meeting with the school and share concerns.”

Depression: Dr. Panitz says older children experiencing depression exhibit a loss of enjoyment in everyday aspects of life, whereas younger children may be irritable and defiant. “Talk to your child and let them know that you are there and available and that you are not going to pass judgment,” says Dr. Panitz.