Doctor's Note, by Jacinto Obregon, M.D.
As Georgetown families begin another school year, there are plenty of things competing for parents’ attention, from new schedules and school supplies to extracurricular activities and homework. When we’re pressed for time, our focus naturally narrows to what feels most urgent: finish the task, catch up, get moving. In those moments, even simple habits meant to protect our health and safety, such as following the speed limit and drinking enough water throughout the day, can suddenly feel like inconveniences rather than safeguards.
That’s why the busy back-to-school season is an especially important time for families to keep their health and safety top of mind.
Watch for kids on the roads
Whether children walk, bike, ride the bus, drive a car or get a ride to school, families should regularly review how to get there safely. Familiar routes can make us less attentive over time, so regular reminders matter.
Children who walk to school should travel in groups when possible and stick to a route their parents know. Encourage them to use sidewalks and designated crosswalks, avoid busy intersections when possible and make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Drivers should also do their part by slowing down in school zones and removing distractions, such as phones, music and food. Even hands-free texting and dictation requires some level of concentration and removes your mental focus from the road.
For students riding bicycles or scooters, helmets are critical. A properly fitted helmet helps protect a child’s developing brain from serious injury. Electric bikes and scooters call for extra caution, as higher speeds can increase both the risk and severity of injuries. Parents should talk with children about controlling their speed and regularly check brakes, tires and other equipment.
“Back-to-school safety is all about helping children build habits they will carry with them when a parent isn’t there to remind them,” said Sadie Wyrick, M.D., medical director of the emergency department at St. David’s Children’s Hospital. “Whether that means looking both ways before crossing a street, putting on a helmet or buckling a seat belt, practicing these behaviors consistently helps them become second nature.”
If you are sick, stay home
When students come back together, germs can spread quickly. Simple hygiene habits can go a long way toward reducing the spread of illness and keeping children healthy. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly, cover their coughs and sneezes with their elbow, rather than their hands, and avoid touching their eyes and mouth.
When children are sick, keeping them home can help protect classmates, teachers and others who may be more vulnerable to illness. Many schools and health providers recommend that children be fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to class, though parents should always follow their school’s specific illness policy. As flu season approaches, the start of the school year is also a good reminder to plan ahead for annual flu vaccinations, ideally before the end of October.
Remember that August is still summer in Texas
The school calendar may say fall, but the temperature often tells a different story. Children waiting for buses, walking home, playing at recess, or participating in sports or other outdoor activities can still be exposed to significant heat.
Send children to school with a reusable water bottle if their school allows it, and encourage them to refill it throughout the day. Remind them to take regular water breaks during outdoor activities, rather than waiting until they feel thirsty. Parents should also review the signs of overheating, including headache, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, heavy sweating and unusual fatigue, so children know when to stop activity, get to a cooler place and hydrate.
Build safety into the routine
Back-to-school safety isn’t about anticipating every possible accident. It’s about helping children develop simple habits they can rely on when parents aren’t beside them. Adults should also do their part by slowing down in school zones and staying alert for pedestrians and cyclists, especially during the morning rush hour.
Reinforcing safe habits and paying a little extra attention can go a long way toward keeping children safe as families settle into the rhythm of a new school year.
Jacinto Obregon, M.D., is a family practice physician at Georgetown Medical Clinic & St. David's Georgetown Hospital.