(Dennison, Ohio) – To have a great school year, kids need to stay healthy. Healthy students are better learners.

Healthy Tip Tuesday is brought to you by Trinity Hospital Twin City.

1. Wash your hands – Germs are everywhere. Touch a surface where germs are lurking, then touch your face, and you can get sick. And washing your hands is even more important with the ongoing concerns and risks related to COVID-19. Handwashing with soap and water is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick, and prevent the spread of colds, flu, and other diseases to others.
2. Eat well and be active – Maintaining a healthy weight is especially important for children. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. children have obesity, putting them at risk for asthma, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. Children with obesity also are more likely to suffer from social isolation, depression, and lower self-esteem.
3. Limit sugary drinks – While calories in drinks are not exactly hidden (they’re listed right on the Nutrition Facts label), many people don’t realize just how many calories are in the beverages they drink. Here’s the good news: Water is a great, no-calorie, low-cost substitute for sugary drinks. Drinking plenty of water every day is a great habit to establish for a lifetime.
4. Don’t use E-cigarettes – E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth. In 2018 more than 3.6 million young people – including 1 in 5 high-school students and 1 in 20 middle-school students – currently used (in the past 30 days) e-cigarettes. The nicotine in e-cigarettes can harm the developing adolescent brain – specifically the areas of the brain that are responsible for learning, memory, and attention.
5. Stay safe – Heads up! Any child can fall, knock his/her head, or get a concussion in any number of school settings ranging from school sports activities to the hallway, the playground, the cafeteria and beyond. Being able to identify and respond to concussions early can help save a life. Visit CDC Heads Upfor information on responding to concussions and supporting students when they return to school after a concussion.
6. Plan for emergencies – Plan ahead! As children head back to school, it’s important to have a written emergency care plan and to practice that plan as often as needed. The plan should include any medicines your child needs to take or any assistive devices used by your children, such as a motorized wheelchair or assistive communication device. Having conversations now with your child’s teacher about being prepared in an emergency can help reduce your concerns if an emergency does happen.
7. Connect with kids at school and home – How connected children feel to school and family can have a strong influence on their lives that continues well into adulthood. Teens with higher levels of connectedness are less likely to experience adverse health outcomes in adulthood, including:

• Getting a sexually transmitted disease.
• Misusing prescription drugs or engaging in illicit drug use.
• Having been the victim of physical violence.

8.) Get vaccinated – From newborns to college students, getting vaccinated can help protect children and teens as they grow into adulthood. Making sure their children get vaccinated is one of the most important things parents can do to protect the health of their children. Vaccinations also protect a child’s classmates, friends, relatives, and others in the community. On-time vaccination protects kids before they are exposed to highly contagious and life-threatening diseases like measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox.