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July 27, 2005
Contact: Susan Nielsen, WSU
Intercollegiate College of Nursing News Bureau,
509/991-9151, susann@wsu.edu Back to School Health Tips to Start the Year Off RightBack to Bedtime: Kids love summer and they love sleeping in. However, as school approaches, school-aged children need to start preparing ahead of time for those early mornings again. In order to make the transition to a morning routine a smooth one, begin waking children up at the time when they normally would for school at least two weeks before school begins. Studies have shown school-aged children need up to 8.5 hours of sleep each night to function at their best. Children lacking quality sleep are susceptible to sleep deprivation and other serious health conditions. Avoiding caffeine and sugar before bedtime will make it much easier for children to fall asleep sooner. “ The early bedtime routine is a tough sell, but it’s easier and healthier for everyone involved to make the transition slowly,” said Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing Assistant Dean for Academic Health Services Margaret Bruya. “The bedtime battles will be minimized and everyone will be able to function better when they’re rested.” Get Immunized: Although most kids cringe at the sight of a needle, it is essential to keep current on immunizations before heading back to the classroom. Vaccines not only help keep your child healthy by preventing serious illness, but also protect the community as a whole. Before beginning kindergarten, children must be immunized for the complete series of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella and polio. Parents should contact the family doctor to determine if any other vaccinations are necessary. It is very important that accurate records of all immunizations are kept. The chicken pox vaccine may also be necessary for those who did not contract the disease in their preteen years. Such individuals are at risk for long term complications if the immunization is not administered. Meningitis, a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease often mistaken for the flu, is another immunization which older students should have. College students, especially, are at high risk for contracting meningitis because they reside in group-living situations. WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing Professor Deborah Swain recommends college students get a meningitis vaccine to reduce the risk of this disease. For assistance in reaching Swain, swain@wsu.edu, contact Susan Nielsen, communications, marketing and public relations director at the College of Nursing, at 509.324.7372, susann@wsu.edu. “ When all students are current on their immunizations it creates a much healthier environment for everyone—students, parents, teachers and the community at large,” said Swain. Eat Breakfast: No matter how chaotic school mornings become, the most important meal of the day continues to be breakfast. Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast perform better and more efficiently on their schoolwork than those who do not. Eating breakfast has also been linked to improved concentration, problem-solving ability, memory and mood. Hungry children are often distracted, easily irritable and tired—and that is no way to start off a new year! According to Bruya, there is no “magic” breakfast, but a meal balanced with protein, carbohydrate and fat is the best way to start the day. Breakfasts such as cereal, fruit and milk, or eggs, toast and orange juice are quick, easy and accessible. On-the-go items include yogurt, cheese, toast with peanut butter or cream cheese, muffins, cut fruit and juice. “It’s easy to set items out the night before for the kids to help themselves—it’s fun and gets them up, going and involved,” said Bruya.
Established in 1968, the WSU Intercollegiate
College of Nursing is fully-accredited by the
Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is
the largest college of nursing in Washington
state. The college is the nation’s oldest
and most comprehensive nursing education
consortium. Celebrating 37 years of world class
nursing education, the college offers
baccalaureate, graduate and professional
development course work to nursing students
enrolled through its four consortium partners:
Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga
University, WSU and Whitworth College. Each year
the college educates more than 780 graduate and
upper-division undergraduate students and
prepares more entry-level nurses than any other
Washington state educational institution. For
more information about the College of Nursing
visit the Web site at nursing.wsu.edu. •0515• |
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