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!
Student Obesity DataReleased Health
Officials Call for Greater Community Involvement
At a time when many cities report high rates of obesity among adults and
children, the Escambia County Health Department released data showing no
increase in the total number of students who are obese and a 2% increase in the
total number of students who are overweight for the 2009-2010 school 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.


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
focusing on the issue of Childhood Obesity during the 2009/2010 school
year. This past school year, we found that 20% 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.
School Health Main Office
(850) 484-5100
Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
School Health Login
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