Heading back to school can be overwhelming for kids and parents alike. Aside from all the school supplies and new jeans to sport, there’s the health of your kids to think about. Vaccinations, physical exams and managing lunches are three things you can do to keep your kids healthy for the whole school year. Here are a few tips to consider.  

Vaccinations? Check

There are many different illnesses affecting our youth. But often times they can be preventable with the right immunization. Talk to a Health Mart pharmacist about which vaccinations are right for your children. Immunization schedules do vary from state to state, but your Health Mart pharmacist can help provide information if you want to know which vaccines to get and when/how often to do them. While an increasing number of people are electing not to vaccinate children, current research shows that measles are on the rise across the nation. 

• 288 cases of measles were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States between Jan. 1 and May 23, 2014
• This is the largest number of measles cases in the United States reported in the first five months of a year since 1994¹
• Nearly all of the measles cases in 1994 have been associated with international travel by unvaccinated people¹

Talk to your Health Mart Pharmacist about vaccinations.

Abolish acne

Your kids are growing up and when puberty hits, so too does acne — rearing it’s ugly head (or heads). Check out your Health Mart store for wide variety of products that can help keep your child’s skin in the clear. Skin care tools such as cleansers and acne treatments can really help diminish the unwanted attention that acne brings about — keeping your child’s skin radiant and acne free.

Shop for savings at Health Mart.

Caring for peanut allergies

Peanut butter is staple in homes and cafeterias across America. But many kids are allergic to peanut and peanut products. If your child has a peanut allergy, they are not alone. Peanut allergies are estimated to affect approximately 400,000 school-aged children in the United States.² One study concluded that the incidence of peanut allergy among children more than tripled from 1997 to 2008.² If your school does not allow peanut butter, check out alternatives such as sunflower seed butter.  

Look for these peanut allergy symptoms³

• Skin reactions, such as hives, redness or swelling
• Itching or tingling in or around the mouth and throat
• Digestive problems, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting
• Tightening of the throat
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Runny nose

Today’s history lesson

• In 1923, upon observing his wife applying wads of cotton to toothpicks, Leo Gerstenzang, the original founder of the Q-tips^® Company, conceived the idea of manufacturing a ready-to-use cotton swab.
• In 1924, Kleenex^® was trademarked and launched as a cold cream or makeup remover.
• In 1963, Band-Aid^® adhesive bandages went into space for the first time with the Mercury astronauts.

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Article Sources

1. Measles cases in the United States reach 20-year high: Accessed August 31, 2015.

2. Peanut allergy: Accessed August 31, 2015.

3. Peanut allergy: Accessed August 31, 2015.