With the new school year upon us, now is a good time to check in with your family’s pediatrician to learn more about maintaining your child’s good health and to ensure that your child is tracking on developmental milestones. It’s also a good time to share concerns related to the overall health and well-being of your child, and to ask medical questions.
If your child has a 504-b Medical Plan or an IEP, make sure your pediatrician provides your child’s school nurse with updates.
Keeping your children healthy and safe this school year comes down to just a few rules: having your kids vaccinated, scheduling a medical check-up, discussing questions/concerns with a sports physician; and making sure your children have a safe mode of transportation to and from school.
Vaccines
Kids are typically very social. They hang out at their friends’ homes. They play team sports or participate in arts programs. They study together. As pediatricians, we encourage socialization. However, being so social makes children more susceptible to catching a cold, coming down with the flu, or being exposed to a more serious disease. That’s why vaccinations are so important.
Since the pandemic, immunization rates have decreased — exposing children (and their families) to vaccine-preventable diseases. For example, we have begun to see more cases of measles. There has already been a 4.5% higher rate than last year, with nearly all cases (92%) among those who are unvaccinated.
A recent study reported on 41 cases of influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy — a severe neurologic condition that can be fatal. Almost all were not vaccinated. Most troubling is the fact that last year, only 55% of American children received the flu vaccine.
Sports
Lots of kids in Irvine participate in sports and require an updated sports physical. Scheduling an annual evaluation with a physician focused on sports medicine can address common nutrition questions from young athletes. For example, parents often want to know what to feed their children to help them gain weight and get stronger. They also inquire about the best food choices to serve between games over a long weekend tournament, and whether supplements are safe for children.
A proper sports physical will include a discussion of sports nutrition to make a more informed athlete.
The pre-participation physical can also discuss sport-specific injury reduction tips — including strategies for reducing the risk of knee injuries among young soccer players and helping to mitigate shoulder/elbow problems in baseball players.
Athletes with asthma, diabetes and food/environmental allergies should have action plans that discuss potential problems and responses — including medications and dialing 911 for emergency support. These action plans can be developed and reviewed during the sports physical, then shared with school nurses, athletic trainers, coaches and other personnel as needed.
Getting to School Safely
It’s worth thinking about the risks and benefits of various modes of transportation to and from school: walking, bicycling, driving, and riding the school bus.
The school bus is the safest mode of transportation … provided the bus has lap-shoulder belts, and your child buckles up. California law requires all school buses built in 2006 and after to be equipped with lap/shoulder belts. It is well documented that lap/shoulder belts work — they dramatically improve child passenger safety.
If your children prefer riding their bikes to school, make sure they are wearing a bike helmet.
Teens on e-bikes have become a real problem here in Irvine. The Irvine Police Department (IPD) has reported an increase in accidents and safety lapses in teens driving e-bikes in town and around our Irvine schools. That’s why the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) has partnered with the IPD to host mandatory e-bike safety workshops. All IUSD students who ride e-bikes to school must attend the safety class.
If you are driving your child, give yourself extra time because traffic around our Irvine schools has become more congested. The IPD has reported an increase in the number of drivers who fail to stop or slow down around schools, which is why there are more police patrols during the drop-off and pick-up times.
Distracted drivers, pedestrians, and bikers are a danger to themselves and others. Remember: No texting while biking, walking, or driving.
Chris Koutures, MD, FAAP grew up here in Irvine. He is a dual board-certified pediatric and sports medicine specialist who practices at ActiveKidMD in Anaheim Hills. He is a team physician for USA Volleyball (including participating in the 2008 Beijing Olympics); the U.S. Figure Skating Sports Medicine Network; Cal State Fullerton Intercollegiate Athletics; and the Chapman University Dance Department. He offers a comprehensive blend of general pediatric and sports medicine care with an individualized approach to each patient and family.
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