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The students of the Neshaminy School District are weighed and measured every year as part of the health assessment mandated by the state of Pennsylvania. Beginning in September 2005, the state has also requested that the nurses calculate a Body Mass Index (BMI) and Body Mass Index Percentile as provided by the Centers for Disease Control. In elementary schools, the BMI will be calculated and the results sent home to every parent of first and fourth grade students.
A Body Mass Index is a weight for stature index that can be utilized in conjunction with other health profile traits to indicate possible risk for disease. Because the percentage of body fat changes during the growing years, children and teens require adaptation of BMI results to reflect this. The Body Mass Index Percentile identifies the place on the growth charts where a particular student compares with other students of the same gender and age.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that Body Mass Index percentiles less than 5% and more than 85% may represent risk to health.
For more information on Body Mass Index and Health you can log onto the web site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Services at www.cdc.gov/growthcharts. Information on nutrition and activity resources can also be obtained from Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity at www.panaonline.org.
BMI Basics
"Knowing your child's body mass index (BMI) can help you determine if he's at a healthy weight, but this measurement can be confusing," says Julie Lumeng, M.D., research investigator at the Center form Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
It's not just the formula {weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters} that's puzzling. For adults, you need only to plug in weight and height to calculate BMI, but for kids you have to take age, and gender into account.
A tween or teen with a BMI in the 85th to 95th percentile is considered at risk for becoming overweight. If a child is above 95 percent, he/she is overweight.
Check this web site and let them do the math for you! www.familycircle.com/bmi
Medications at School
If your child requires medication to be given at school, please be sure to ask the physician for a note. A note is required for any medication. If the medication is ordered via the phone, you may use my home fax to have the note faxed from the physician's office to may at 215 364-8668. I will be sure the note gets to school the next day.
All medication give at school must be in the original container. If it is a prescription medication, ask the pharmacist for an identical bottle. The pharmacist will even measure out liquid medication for the amount of school days required. Just a reminder, that students would not be permitted to transport medication, so an additional container would be advantageous and also safe.
Antibiotics that are ordered three times a day are usually not given at school. Antibiotics are most therapeutic if stretched throughout the child's waking hours. If the child attends an after school program, he/she will usually require a dose at school.
If you think your child may require any over the counter medication during the school year (example, Advil, Tylenol, Cold tablets, etc), it would be beneficial to get the order to cover the entire school year. This may prevent a headache or cold from worsening so your child would be more comfortable at school.
Just a reminder of our School District Policy for medication. You must have:
a. A physician's note which clearly states:
1. Name of medication
2. Amount of dosage
3. Time medication is to be given
4. Reason for prescribing medication
b. Parent note with the same information as stated above
c. Medication waiver signed
Neshaminy requires a parent note for cough drops. (No physician's note is required) The cough drops will be kept in the teacher's desk and given to the child as needed. This policy is to prevent a choking incident.
If your child sustains an injury such as a fracture or sprain, that requires any limitations, please send a doctor's note indicating when to stop activities such as gym and recess and also when to resume these activities.
FREE HEALTHCARE FOR LOW INCOME ADULTS!
Healthlink provides full service medial care for low income adults. Call Healthlink for more information at:
Healthlink
1775 Street Road
Southampton, PA
215 364-4247
Free Children's Health Insurance
The YWCA of Bucks County and The Free Clinic of Doylestown can assist families with enrollment in free or low-cost health insurance for children. Medical, prescription, and dental coverage are included for children from birth to age 19. A family of four with an income of up to $45,473 may be eligible for this program.
Applications can be done over the phone. Call to see if you are eligible. In Lower Bucks County, call the YWCA's toll free number, 1-888-205-0535.
Free Kids' Dental Program
Free basic dental care is available for low-income, uninsured children of Bucks County through the BCHIP Dental Program.
Call toll free 1-800-347-6803 to access this program, sponsored by Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP), dedicated to improving health and enhancing lives.