Back to school season can be a stressful time for parents and children alike, but the CEO and medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit says with a bit of preparedness, families can take some of that stress away. Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, A.K.A. Dr. Paul, says parents should plan ahead before they send their kids off to class for the first time this school year. “Kids are stressed by school, so are parents nowadays, and so it’s important to be as prepared as possible,” Dr. Paul said. “You don’t want to go to school not being prepared and have any surprises.” Dr. Paul joined CTV Your Morning Ottawa on Wednesday to offer a few tips to parents ahead of the school year. Adjust their sleep schedule As Dr. Paul explains, one of the difficulties when sending children back to school is the change in routine. Children who slept in throughout the summer are suddenly having to wake up early in the morning to attend class. To ensure your children are getting enough rest as classes commence, Dr. Paul recommends adjusting their sleep schedule a week or two before the school year begins. “That’s why we’re doing this two weeks before school starts, just to get the kids used to going back to bed at, you know, the usual time, because they have to get up early the next morning,” he said. Complete check-ups, exams Dr. Paul says check-ups and eye exams should be completed every year and it’s best to get them done before children head back to class. “You need to know what your child has. So, if it’s asthma or any medication or any chronic illness, the school needs to know about this, and very often they need to know it ahead of time,” he said. If the child needs to take any medications, or if they are dealing with any conditions, their school should be informed before they attend class. “Don’t wait and do it the day you go to school. Again, we want to avoid surprises. We want to have as smooth as a school entry as possible.” Food allergy check-in When it comes to food allergies, Dr. Paul says parents have two main responsibilities. First, like with other medical conditions, parents need to ensure the school knows about any allergies their children may have. As Dr. Paul explains, many children with allergies will need to have an EpiPen or another adrenaline injector, which the school will need permission to use. While most schools have protocols in place in case of an emergency, Dr. Paul says it’s best to ensure everyone is in the know from day one. Next, parents should also know what the school’s food allergy policy is ahead of the school year, even if their child does not have an allergy. “You don’t want to send your child in peanut butter sandwiches, and it’s a peanut butter for school,” he said. Get up to date on immunizations Dr. Paul says proper immunization is the best way to protect children and others, and children in Ontario need certain shots to attend school. “Check that out every year,” he said. “It’s important that you’re up to date.” Parents should speak to their children’s doctor or consult their public health agency for information. Information can also be found on the Government of Ontario’s website. Parents will receive a notice from their public health agency if their child’s vaccination records are out of date, and Dr. Paul says, in some cases, the child can be suspended. “That’s very rare. But again, we want to make sure that they’re up to date,” Dr. Paul said.
