Kerr Drug Advises Parents to Plan Ahead for a Healthy Start to School

Online, August 6, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Raleigh, NC- Getting your child ready for a new school year of reading, writing and arithmetic takes more than just shopping for new shoes, notebooks, pens and pencils. Once the school year starts, your kids will be more prone to illness than they were during the summer. That's why Kerr Drug advises parents to send your children back to classroom with a Back to School Backpack Health Kit to reduce their risk of becoming ill or spreading germs.

"The number one lesson to teach your child before they go back to school is that washing their hands regularly, especially before eating and after using the restroom, is the best way to stay healthy," says Scott Porter, Kerr Drug's Category Manager for Health Aids. "Parents should also remind children to always cover their nose and mouth with a tissue, shirt sleeve or elbow when coughing or sneezing."

The Back to School Backpack Health Kit can be assembled for less than $10, will easily fit into a pencil pouch, with the water bottle on the side of the backpack, and will last for several months. Porter suggests including:

1. Hand sanitizing gel
2. Travel size pack of tissues
3. Small container of disposable, antiseptic wipes.
4. Reusable water bottle.
5. Lip balm
6. Comb or hair brush so your children don't have to share
7. Emergency contact information, allergy information, as a backup to the contacts in the school office.

Porter advises parents to review their child's immunization records at the start of every school year to make sure all necessary shots and vaccinations are current. Parents should also be sure to keep a reliable thermometer in the house, because children should not be sent to school with a fever.

Questions? Contact Frank Graff, 919-459-8168, [email protected]