Head to MinuteClinic for a Healthy Start for Back to School

It’s Back to School time and while I’ve been going over the school supply lists and checking it twice, there’s one more thing we have been making sure is ready for the new school year and that’s our health! Just like you get new school supplies, socks and underwear {No? Just us?}, it’s also important to get your kid’s health checked out.

At the MinuteClinic, they have you covered with all of the services you need from vaccinations and immunizations to sports physicals. While my son doesn’t need a physical before school starts, many schools and sports do require it. I recently went to make an appointment with our pediatrician for a different issue and they had a hard time trying to fit us in because of all the kids trying to get in for a sports and school physical. Skip that wait and head to a MinuteClinic instead!

It’s important to start a new school year knowing your little one is healthy and that all immunizations are up to date. Many schools and colleges require that students receive vaccinations including meningitis and pertussis (whopping cough) before attending school.

Children and young adults are among the highest at risk for meningitis. MinuteClinic can administer meningitis vaccines to anyone over 18 months in most states.

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory disease that can cause serious illness, especially in infants too young to be fully vaccinated. To prevent pertussis, infants should be vaccinated as soon as they are old  enough.

MinuteClinic recommends that those over 18 should get a booster vaccination immediately if they haven’t received one.

At your local MinuteClinic, practitioners can:

• Review health history and immunizations
• Perform a thorough physical exam
• Complete and stamp required paperwork

If you’re child is starting fall sports this year, here are some great tips from MinuteClinic!

• When starting a new sport, consider a pre-season conditioning program or camp to gradually build strength & endurance
• Don’t let them jump in too fast – increase intensity, distance or duration of play by about 10% a week. This  allows the body to rest, rebuild, recover & avoid injury
• Help your kids boost their stamina and include the fit 5 in their diet: quinoa, kale, chia seed, peanut butter & pickle juice
• Avoid cramping before game time and serve main meals 2-3 hours prior. If they really need something before a game, lighter snacks, such as granola bars, can be digested in 30 minutes

When it comes to injuries, sprains and strains are two of the most common ones, so be sure to know the difference between the two.

• Sprains occur in a ligament (bone connector)
• Strains occur in a muscle or tendon (muscle-bone connector)

Kids can get either one after a fall on the sports field. But  with strains, there’s an extra layer ─ they can actually get one just from overuse (like gripping a gymnastics bar or tennis racket). Get it checked out if their pain is severe ─ but if not, here’s how to help give them pain relief, fast:

For the first 24-48 hours, think R.I.C.E. Help your kids:

R = Rest the joint, and keep weight off  of it.

I = Ice  the area to ease swelling.

C = Compress the joint by  wearing an elasticized support bandage from the drugstore.

E = Elevate it ─ keep it up above their heart, especially when they sleep.

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I love that we have the convenience of MinuteClinic for any last-minute vaccinations or physicals we may need for Back to School!

Disclosure: I have received promotional consideration from MinuteClinic and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. All opinions are my own.