PROTECTING CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES: MAKING THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL TRANSITION A SMOOTH ONE

Heading back to school signals a time of transition: new books, new classes, new teachers, and new schedules. For children with chronic illnesses and their families, the transition can be a particularly anxious one. Parents and caregivers must relinquish control of the child’s medical care to school staff. Meanwhile, children must contend with fears of teasing or rejection from peers.

“School plays a major role in the lives of children with chronic illnesses,” says Denise Brewitt, executive director of the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions (CCACHC). “Aside from the academics and the social interactions, school can be one of the only places where a young boy or girl contending with a chronic illness is treated as a child and a student, and not as a patient.”
According to CCACHC, approximately 1 in 6 New Hampshire children – roughly 42,000 – struggle with a chronic health condition. At least 10,000 of these children have severe to life-threatening illnesses.

Chronic health conditions cover a wide variety of diagnoses, ranging from asthma and allergies to diabetes and hemophilia to neuromotor disorders (such as muscular dystrophy) and cancer. CCACHC is the only statewide organization that has a legislative mandate to focus on the issues affecting children and adolescents with chronic illnesses.

To make the back-to-school transition smoother and to ensure children get the most out of their academic experience, Molly Schlangen, a nurse at the Lamprey River Elementary School in Raymond, N.H., offers five helpful tips:

1.) “Check expiration dates on all medications to be sure the prescriptions are current,” Schlangen says. In particular, medication not administered on a regular basis, such as Diastat, which is used in the treatment of seizures, should regularly be checked to make sure it hasn’t expired. Also, be certain asthma inhalers are not empty. An inhaler that floats in a bowl of water is a good sign that it’s empty, but keeping track of the number of puffs used (typically 200 per vial) is most accurate.

2.) “Provide a separate container for medications to be left at school.” Children with chronic illnesses are often prescribed more than one medication, so storing them in a labeled container is an ideal way to help a school’s medical staff stay organized. If requested, most pharmacies will provide a prescription container free of charge.

3.) “Update your child’s contact information including cell phone numbers and relatives’ numbers. Make note of any anticipated changes. Special ‘emergency care plans’ should be reviewed and sent into school.” Other than parents and caregivers, children spend the most time with educators. Parents should meet with teachers and school staff members to properly educate them on their child’s illness, particularly if it’s a rare illness. Topics should include keeping an open line of communication between educators and parents/caregivers, medication administration, how to recognize symptoms, and emergency preparation.

4.) “Request an updated note from your physician’s office outlining any special considerations, new medications, or reportable symptoms for your child.” Providing such documentation to the school ensures staff will have the necessary information to keep your child safe and healthy.

5.) “Inform others of your child’s health concerns: cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and adults on recess duty.” Making other school staff members aware of your child’s illness can alleviate parent/caregiver stress and ensure the illness is properly managed.

“A smooth back-to-school transition hinges on good preparation,” Schlangen says. “Taking these steps will help make a child’s return a stress-free one, and help parents or caregivers become more comfortable with leaving their child at school.”