Back to School Tips if Your Child has a Chronic Illness

• August 14, 2017
• Amber Specialty Pharmacy
• Health Tips

It’s August already and that means one thing in my house—back to school. As parents check school supply lists, get backpacks out, and prepare for that big first day, parents of children with chronic illnesses have some extra homework to do. This could be because of potential absences or medications that are given during the school day. If you have a child with a chronic illness, there are three things you can do to better prepare for the new school year.

Inform the School

Your child’s teacher and the school nurse need to know about any illnesses and medications in advance. If your child needs to take medications during the school day, the school may request that your physician fill out a form. The school will also need specific details about the medication, how it’s stored and any potential side effects. It’s also important to ensure the label on the bottle of the medication has the most up-to-date directions. If you need an extra labeled empty bottle, Amber Specialty Pharmacy is happy to provide one for you. The school should also have your pediatrician’s name and contact information, as well as who to contact in case of an emergency. It would also be helpful to provide your child’s teacher and the school nurse with some educational materials about your child’s condition.

Make a Plan for Absences

Unfortunately, missing school is a reality for children with chronic conditions. Children with chronic conditions miss school when they aren’t feeling well and often have to leave school for appointments. This can lead to extra stress as the homework piles up. Before school starts you should make a plan for absences. Start by letting the school know that your child will likely miss some school and learn the best way to inform them of these absences. You can also work out the best way for your child to get any homework he or she misses. Having an open dialogue with the school around absences is key. Hopefully, having a plan in place will reduce some of the extra stress from missing school.

Be Vigilant Against Germs

In the U.S. 22 million days of school are missed each year due to colds, the flu and other infections. This can cause concern if your child has a weakened immune system due to a chronic illness. So how do you protect your child from germs in the classroom? One of the best things to do is encourage handwashing. Your child should be washing his or her hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. A helpful trick is to have them sing the “Happy Birthday” song in their head two times while washing hands to get to at least 20 seconds. It’s also helpful to have hand sanitizer nearby. Cleaning hands before eating is especially important. Coughing into hands is another common problem. If there are no tissues around, children need to be coughing into a sleeve. Another tip is to tell your child not to share germ-prone objects like cups, plates, silverware or food. If your child is an adolescent, items like makeup and clothing shouldn’t be shared with friends.

If your child shows signs of a cold or the flu, keep him or her home. This will help your child recover faster and help prevent spreading germs to others. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to protect your child 100 percent but these tips should help keep your child healthy during the school year.

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If your child is an Amber Specialty Pharmacy patient who takes medications during the school day and you’re unsure about what the school needs to know, feel free to give our expert team a call. We can offer advice and send you an extra labeled prescription bottle if need be. Hopefully, with a little extra planning, getting back into the school routine will go smoothly in your household!