Gear Up for Best Back-to-School Health Practices from The Brooklyn Hospital Center

It’s time for back-to-school shopping and Keeping Brooklyn Healthy!

“Now that the summer is coming to an end, it’s our job as parents and healthcare leaders to make sure our families are happy, healthy and ready for school,” says Gary G. Terrinoni, TBHC’s President & CEO. “Education and wellness go hand in hand. TBHC is here to keep you and your kids in tip-top shape for the coming school year.”

Here are some best tips for starting the school year healthily:

• Schedule your child’s annual check-up appointments now. Students in public schools must have up-to-date immunizations and there is no better time than now to check on your child’s vaccine status.
• While you’re at it, check that the adults in your household are current on their immunizations, too. All adults should get the Tdap vaccine if they did not receive it as an adolescent to protect against pertussis, otherwise known as the whopping cough. A Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot is also needed every decade. Healthy adults who are 50 years or older are recommended to get the zoster vaccine to prevent shingles.
• Fall season will quickly turn into flu season. Flu shots are usually available by the end of September. The Centers for Disease Control recommends everyone 6 months and older getting the flu shot yearly, preferably by the end of October. Also take preventative actions to stop the spread of germs such as covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and washing hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub if the former isn’t available.
• Commit as a family to eating balanced meals filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains. 
• Enjoy the end of summer with lots of outdoor physical activities and sunscreen!
• As summer winds down, start moving your children to a healthier sleep schedule for school. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends preschoolers sleep 10 to 13 hours including naptime. Grade schoolers should sleep 9 to 12 hours, while teens should need 8 to 10 hours sleep. All children thrive on a regular bedtime routine. Children who get enough sleep have a healthier immune system, better school performance, behavior, memory and mental health. 
• One last tip: Add tissue packs and a small bottle of hand sanitizer per family member to the back-to-school shopping list to ensure healthy best practices every day.

To make an appointment at an ambulatory care center near you, visit tbh.org/BrooklynNeighborhoodCare or call 1-833-TBHC-NOW (833-824-2669).