Getting ready for a new school year involves more than buying school supplies. It's also a good time to make sure your child's routine healthcare needs are taken care of and review a few habits that can help them stay healthy once classes begin.
Before the first day, check school health requirements, make sure physicals and vaccinations are up to date, and talk with your child about basic hygiene. It also helps to know where to go if an illness or minor injury comes up during the year.
AFC Urgent Care Medford provides pediatric urgent care, school and sports physicals, vaccinations, flu shots, laboratory testing, and X-rays. We're open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm for families who need care when their primary care provider isn't available.
What Should Parents Do Before the School Year Starts?
Start by checking your child's school requirements. Depending on their age and activities, they may need a physical, vaccination records, or other health documentation before returning to the classroom or participating in sports.
This is also a good time to review any routine healthcare needs. If your child's physical or vaccinations are due, taking care of them before classes begin can help avoid last-minute appointments.
The clinic offers school and sports physicals, vaccinations, and flu shots to help families take care of these needs in one place.
It's worth making an illness plan, too. Check your school's policy for when children should stay home and when they can return. Knowing where to seek care if your child develops a fever, sore throat, ear pain, or another illness can make an unexpected sick day easier to manage.
How Can I Help My Child Avoid Getting Sick at School?
Children spend a lot of time around other students, so some exposure to germs is unavoidable. Still, simple habits can help reduce the spread of illness.
Encourage your child to:
- Wash their hands: Especially before eating, after using the bathroom, and after activities.
- Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue or the inside of their elbow instead of their hands.
- Avoid sharing personal items: Don't share drinks, utensils, or other items that come into contact with the mouth.
- Stay home when sick: Resting at home gives your child time to recover and helps protect classmates.
For younger children, practicing these habits before classes resume can make them easier to remember during the day.
When Should I Take My Child to Urgent Care?
Even with good habits, children will still get sick or injured from time to time. Urgent care can be a useful option when your child needs to be evaluated for a non-emergency concern and their primary care provider isn't available.
Consider having your child evaluated if they have:
- A persistent or concerning fever
- Significant throat or ear pain
- A cough or other symptoms that are getting worse
- Trouble keeping fluids down
- A minor injury that needs medical attention
- Symptoms that are interfering with normal activities
AFC Urgent Care Medford can evaluate many common childhood illnesses and minor injuries, with on-site laboratory testing and digital X-rays available when appropriate.
What Should I Keep Ready in Case My Child Gets Sick?
A little preparation can make an unexpected sick day easier. Keep a thermometer at home and have your child's current medication and allergy information somewhere you can easily find it.
If your child develops symptoms, make a note of when they started and whether they're getting better or worse. Having that information available can help a healthcare provider understand what's going on and determine whether an evaluation or testing may be needed.
Get Ready for the School Year at AFC Urgent Care Medford
Taking care of routine health needs before classes begin can make the transition back to school a little easier. And when an unexpected illness or injury comes up, knowing where to go for care can save parents time and stress.
AFC Urgent Care Medford proudly serves families in Medford, Somerville, Malden, Everett, Arlington, and surrounding communities. Our clinic is open 7 days a week from 8am to 8pm and accepts walk-in patients. For more information call (617) 582-2800 or visit our clinic today.
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