Get a Healthy Start for School with tips from Atrium Health Navicent
Physicians advise students to stay up-to-date on vaccinations, eat and sleep healthy and practice proper handwashing techniques
As students return to classrooms across central and south Georgia, physicians at Atrium Health Navicent offer parents and guardians tips for ensuring children start the school year healthy and ready to learn.
Touch base with your child’s pediatrician and ensure that he/she is up-to-date on well-child visits and vaccinations. Vaccination against COVID-19 is advised for everyone aged 12 and older. If you have questions about the vaccine, consult your child’s pediatrician.
Enforce a healthy sleep routine that includes 8-12 hours of rest each night. Set bed and wake-up times at the same time each day, including weekends and encourage children to be active during the day so they can fall asleep easier at night.
Plan meals that include fruits, vegetables and lean meats and limit packaged foods like chips and crackers. Also limit consumption of sugary drinks.
Remind children about proper handwashing techniques to prevent the spread of viruses, including COVID-19. Hands should be washed for at least 20-seconds (long enough to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice) with soap and water.
“A lot of children have fallen behind on their well-child visits and vaccinations during the pandemic, but there’s still time to get back on track,” said Dr. Edward Clark, Medical Director for Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital. “The beginning of school is a great time to touch base with your child’s pediatrician, ask any questions you may have and get back into healthy eating and sleeping routines.”
Physicians at Atrium Health Navicent Children’s Care Downtown Macon and Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital are available to provide care ranging from well-child visits and treatment of childhood illnesses to emergency care. Visit navicenthealth.org to find a doctor or learn more.
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of healthcare in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and well-being through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit NavicentHealth.org