School Health
Health Ready Tips for Back to School
Check out the Health Ready Tips for your
child’s grade level.
And Remember:
The Escambia County Health Department wishes you and your child a Healthy and
Successful School Year!
At a time when many cities report high
rates of obesity among adults and children, the Florida Department of Health in
Escambia County released 2012-2013 student data showing a decrease in the total
percentage of students who are obese or overweight. The data shows 64% of the
children measured are in the normal range for BMI this year. Escambia students
take home
Health Report Cards
(49.5kb; pdf)
that provide parents with results of multiple screenings including vision,
hearing and Body Mass Index (BMI).
The mission of the School Health Department is to enhance
learning by promoting health and wellness for children in Escambia County.
The
strength of the School Health Department is found in its caring, creative,
committed and competent staff who are making a positive impact on the health
of students and children in Escambia County.
Our department serves children and students in childcare programs, pre-K,
Headstart, and schools.
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Our services include:
- Medication Administration
- Review of immunization and health records
- Nursing assessments, counseling, and care plan
development
- Health screenings including vision, hearing,
growth & development, scoliosis, blood pressure
- Referrals and follow-up for health problems
- Home visits
- Classroom presentations for health issues and
health fairs
- Staff training for health procedures
- Set health policies and guidelines
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Our program is again focusing on the
issue of Childhood Obesity during the 2012/2013 school year. This past
school year, we found that 19% of our students were overweight and
another 16% were at risk for overweight. We are working with the
Escambia County School District to implement steps to help children
improve their nutrition and physical activity habits.
If
the childhood obesity epidemic continues unchecked, we may be raising
the first generation of children in the history of our nation who will
have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents. How can you
help?
The Core Recommendations for
Healthy Families
(4kb; pdf)
were created as a result of the Escambia County School District Obesity
Taskforce in cooperation with the Escambia County Health Department. They are
based on guidelines and recommendations of numerous agencies and organizations
including the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the
American Dietetic Association, the National Association for Sports and Physical
Education, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is the group’s goal that
ALL families in Escambia County receive the same recommendations relating to
nutrition, physical activity, and making healthy changes.
Nutrition
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Choose a
variety of foods.
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Aim
to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
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Include 3 servings a day of low-fat milk or dairy products.
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Choose fiber rich whole-grains.
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Select lean meats.
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Eat
foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and total fat.
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Limit
foods and drinks that are high in sugar such as candy and soda.
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Drink
plenty of water everyday.
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Plan
ahead for eating healthy snacks.
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Eat a
healthy breakfast everyday.
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Serve
smaller portions.
Physical
Activity
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Elementary school children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical
activity everyday.
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Children
should not have extended periods (two hours or more) of inactivity.
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Children
should participate each day in a variety of age-appropriate physical
activities to promote lifetime fitness.
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All
adolescents should be physically active each day, engaging in three or more
sessions per week of moderate to vigorous activities that last 20 minutes or
more at a time.
Limit
television watching, video games, and computer-related activities to no more
than 2 hours per day outside of school.
Making Changes
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Balance
food choices with physical activity for a healthy body.
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Set a
good example for children by making physical activity and healthy eating a
part of your daily routine.
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Focus on
small but permanent changes for better health.
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School Health
Entry Exam
(DH 3040 Form) |
Purpose:
The School Entry Health Exam has been designed to meet the requirements
for the school entry health examination, as mandated by s.1003.22, F.S. for
student entry into Florida public and private schools, grades Pre-Kindergarten
to 12. It provides basic health and screening information that will assist the
school and school health personnel in meeting the needs of the child.
Health Care Professional:
A health professional who is licensed in Florida or in the state where the
student resided at the time of the health examination, and who is authorized to
perform a general health examination shall certify that the health examination
has been completed.
Time Limits:
The child’s health examination must be completed within one year prior to
enrollment in school. A homeless child shall be given a temporary exemption for
30 school days.
Exemptions:
A child shall be exempt from this requirement upon written request from parent
or guardian on religious grounds.
Copies:
A copy of the front and back of the completed form may be retained in the
child’s medical file kept by the health care provider. The original completed DH
3040 Form should be given to the parent to take to the school to provide
information and to document that this requirement is met. Traditionally, this
form is produced on yellow paper.
School Entry Health Exam (DH 3040
Form)
(111.8kb;
pdf)
8390 North
Palafox Street
Pensacola, FL 32534
Phone number:
850-484-5100
Hours:
Monday – Friday
7 AM – 4 PM
Download
Adobe Reader to view PDF files
This page was last modified on:
05/17/2013 10:40:23
