888-765-5400BCBSNC Keeps Kids Healthy! – Back to School Tips for Staying Well
It’s that time of year again- back to school and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina encourages preventive care for your school-aged children! Every year when school starts, exposure to all kinds of viruses and bacteria increases. It’s simply unavoidable. Our kids are back together in one place sharing space, air, restrooms and possibly even pencils and all it takes is one sick child in the group to create a ripple effect. In a recent KidsHealth in the Classroom survey of school nurses, the majority agree that the most important thing parents can do to help keep their children stay healthy during the school year is to make sure students wash their hands.
In fact, school nurses encourage parents not only to emphasize the importance of hand washing, but also to teach your children how and when to wash their hands. It is also important to stress the importance of keeping their fingers away from their eyes, nose and mouth and how to cover any coughs and sneezes using elbows instead of hands.
Other things parents can do to help give their kids a great chance at staying healthy this school year include providing a nutritious diet, making sure kids get enough sleep and staying up to date on immunizations. Also, make sure you keep your kids home from school when they do fall sick so that they have an opportunity to rest and recover and other children are not affected. This will minimize the spread of illnesses. Most schools require that students stay home for at least 24 hours after a fever subsides, but some children may require more time to ensure a full recovery.
Teachers can also help keep kids healthy in the classroom by keeping desks and classrooms clean. Providing your child with a pack of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer to keep in their desk is always a good idea and sure to be appreciated by their teacher.
There’s an old proverb that says, “it takes a village to raise a child,” and nothing is more true when it comes to maintaining health during a long school year. Parents, teachers, administrators and children alike must all work together to make sure the school and home environments are clean, safe, and conducive to the health and well-being of our students. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina supports healthy living, which is why preventive services are covered at 100%. Before they start school, make sure your child has a preventive care checkup. If your child is not currently insured, consider obtaining a health insurance policy that allows you to keep them up to date on wellness visits and vaccinations. This school year, let’s work together to keep our kids healthy both in the classroom and out.
For more information on Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina health insurance coverage, the Marketplace and healthcare gov to apply for your subsidy, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our experienced and professional agents. Let us help you navigate through the Health Care Reform changes in accordance with the new regulations of The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obama care.