August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month.
Your child’s eye health, safety and vision are probably the most important tools he has to succeed in school. Eating a well balanced diet, getting the proper amount of sleep and getting regular doctor check ups will ensure the health of your child’s eyes. It is recommended that all children receive a thorough eye exam by an optometrist or ophthalmologist before beginning kindergarten. Annual eye exams are recommended for children who wear glasses or contacts. Children who do not wear corrective eyewear should have an eye exam every other year.
If he/she has a vision problem and it does not get addressed, there can be negative consequences for your child in school performance, sports and play that can last a lifetime.
Two visual concerns that school aged children face are visual acuity (near and farsightedness) and astigmatism. With a complete eye exam, eye care practioners are able to detect these problems. Here is a list of 13 signals that parents and teachers should look for in their child/students that indicate a vision screening or full eye exam is advisable.
- Consistently sitting too close to the TV or holding a book too close
- Losing his place while reading
- Using a finger to follow along while reading
- Squinting
- Tilting the head to see better
- Frequent eye rubbing
- Sensitivity to light
- Excessive tearing
- Closing one eye to read, watch TV or see better
- Avoiding activities which require near vision, such as reading or homework, or distance vision, such as participating in sports or other recreational activities
- Complaining of headaches or tired eyes
- Avoiding using a computer, because it "hurts his eyes"
- Receiving lower grades than usual
Cobb County School District requires vision, hearing and dental screenings prior to beginning kindergarten in August. The County also requires mass vision and hearing screenings for students. At Due West, we mass screen students in first and fourth grades, as well as all new students to Cobb County. If a student does not pass two screenings, parents/guardians will be notified by mail. A teacher may also refer students to the school nurse if vision or hearing problems are assessed in the classroom.
Prevention is the best defense against eye injuries. Being aware and teaching children of possible eye hazards is the key. The most common causes of eye injuries in children are from the misuse of common objects (toys, pens, pencils, scissors, eating utensils, etc.) Being aware of how to prevent eye injuries while playing sports is also important. Make sure your child always wears proper eye protection when playing sports.
For more information on eye health and injury prevention, please visit www.preventblindness.org
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). The goal of NIAM is to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span, from infants to the elderly.
August is the perfect time to remind family, friends, co-workers, and those in the community to catch up on their vaccinations. Parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college, and healthcare workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season
Why are immunizations important?
Immunization is one of the most significant public health achievements of the 20th century. Vaccines have eradicated smallpox, eliminated wild poliovirus in the U.S. and significantly reduced the number of cases of measles, diphtheria, rubella, pertussis and other diseases. But despite these efforts, today tens of thousands of people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Vaccines offer safe and effective protection from infectious diseases. By staying up-to-date on the recommended vaccines, individuals can protect themselves, their families and friends and their communities from serious, life-threatening infections.
Who should be immunized?
Getting immunized is a lifelong, life-protecting community effort regardless of age, sex, race, ethnic background or country of origin. Recommended vaccinations begin soon after birth and continue throughout life. Being aware of the vaccines that are recommended for infants, children, adolescents, adults of all ages and seniors, and making sure that we receive these immunizations, are critical to protecting ourselves and our communities from disease.
When are immunizations given?
Because children are particularly vulnerable to infection, most vaccines are given during the first five to six years of life. Other immunizations are recommended during adolescent or adult years and, for certain vaccines, booster immunization are recommended throughout life. Vaccines against certain diseases that may be encountered when traveling outside of the U.S. are recommended for travelers to specific regions of the world.
(Information taken from www.cdc.gov)
CCSD Immunization and Enrollment Requirements
Adult Immunization Schedule
Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules - 0 - 6 yrs old
Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedules - 7 - 18 yrs old
|
