September has arrived, and students everywhere have been
scrambling to get back to school supplies and prepare for their great
adventure. Schools have become the de
facto environment in which many of our youth develop their lifeskills. Hence
optimization their chances for their future adult lives is a worthy investment.
Education levels are a strong predictor of adult health
outcomes. Those that succeed in school,
are far more likely to succeed in employment, income and health status. So tightly linked is the relationship that
education is itself considered a determinant of health. It is a modifiable determinant, and one that
can be intervened on and measured.
In sending our children back to school, there are lists of
what to be sure students have. A scan
through multiple sites provided diverse recommendations, but some solid advise:
·
Immunizations are up to date.
·
Provide hand sanitizer and reinforce handwashing
hygiene
·
Make water readily accessible and avoid sugary
drinks and juices.
·
Lunches are healthy (and kids probably don’t
need snacks if adequately fed)
·
Provide support to anxious children
·
Be sure vision, dental and general health have
had routine care.
·
Help carry school materials safely in quality
knapsack or rolling bag.
This positing is about what we in public health should be
doing to ensure the elementary school environment is healthy:
1.
Does it provide both breakfast options and lunch
programs?
2.
Are students scheduled to receive daily rigorous
physical activity?
3.
Is there a healthy food, snack and vending
machine policy?
4.
Is access available for handwashing or
sanitizers in every classroom?
5.
Does the school participate in a comprehensive
school health initiative?
6.
Does the school district have a healthy schools
committee of the board?
7.
Does the school promote curriculum that address Healthy
lifestyle choices? Healthy
relationships? Healthy preparation for adulthood?
8.
Is the school setting safe? (Play equipment meeting CSA standards,
fenced,
9.
Are the travel paths to the school secure (lighting,
marked or attended crosswalks, avoiding main throughways)
10.
Are there health policies to address:
o
Management of emergency health conditions
o
Management of chronic health conditions and
medications
§
Students with bloodborne infections
o
Violence, bullying, racism, discrimination
o
Behaviour concerns in classroom
o
Disabilities in students
o
Overweightness in students
In the middle and secondary school environment the needs
become even greater, with:
·
Policies needed to address truancy, crime,
violence, drug and alcohol use.
·
Programming to support healthy sexuality, pregnancy,
child support to keep students in school, counselling for substance use,
counselling for mental health conditions
·
Therapy for students with developing illnesses
·
Treatment for students with developing
overweight and obesity concerns
A brief scan did not find a clear cut list for schools,
additional submissions are welcomed through drphealth@gmail.com
and perhaps we can provide public health staff going into schools (where they
still go to schools) with something concrete to take in hand.
Our southern neighbours have mandated school nursing, and
while the issues of the school nurse are different, there is a focal point for
health issues in schools. Canadian
public health programming sometimes fills that gap, and sometimes neglects our
future generation almost totally beyond checking on their immunization status.
Check out the Canadian
Association of School Health or any of its diverse provincial
partners. There are a plethora of
resources typical of educators, what is often lacking is the leadership or
belief that student health is a priority for schools similar to the traditional
three “R”s.
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