Back to School Physicals

Back to School Physicals

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we would like to remind parents and caregivers about back to school physicals for students. A physical exam is required for students entering certain grades in order to be medically cleared to start school on August 26, 2026. This includes: * Students entering Kindergarten will need a physical dated on or after August 26, 2025. Part of the physical must include lead and hemoglobin levels, and students must be up to date on school required vaccines. * Students entering seventh or tenth grade will need a physical dated on or after June 1, 2025. If your child is entering seventh grade they must have their Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines.  The physical exam visit is a great time to complete forms for medication authorization, refill prescriptions and ask questions or address concerns. Medication orders are required for all medications, including over the counter medications, and a new form is needed every new school year. Starting Thursday, August 20, appointments can be scheduled to drop off any medications and the signed medication authorization form to the school health office. As a reminder, students cannot carry any medications to school.  If your child will be participating in sports next school year, they will also need a sports physical dated 13 months before the first day of try-outs or practice. Please check with coaches or the school nurse about specific requirements. Sports physicals help identify conditions that could affect safe participation in athletic activities. Even if your child has played sports before, annual evaluations remain important because health needs can change as children grow. We understand that accessibility to back to school physicals may be a barrier for families, which is why our Public Health Clinic will be partnering with Community Health Center, Inc. this summer to provide the physicals at 165 Miller Street. Appointments will start on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 8:30am and 1:30pm starting Tuesday, July 7 through Thursday, August 6. To schedule an appointment please call Community Health Center at (475) 231-6978. Paperwork, including physical exams and proof of immunizations, must be received by our Public Health Clinic before the first day of school in order for your child to be medically cleared to attend. Our Clinic, located at 165 Miller Street, is open Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm. We will be open until 6:00pm on Wednesday, June 24 for those needing after-hours drop off. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call our Clinic at (203) 630-4234.

End of School Year Reminders: Medications

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we are here to remind parents and caregivers to pick up any medication your child may have in the school health office during the last week of school. Medications must be picked up by a parent or designated adult over 18 years old. For your child’s safety, please wait to pick up any emergency medications until your child has attended all scheduled field trips at their school. Any medications that are not picked up within 2 days of the last day of school will be brought to the Meriden Health & Human Services Department at 165 Miller Street where they will be held for 2 weeks and then properly disposed of. When you pick up your child’s medication, the school nurse will give you a new medication authorization form for the next school year to be completed by the child's health care provider. Medication orders are required for all medications, including over the counter medications. Medications and the signed medication authorization form can be brought to the school health office 5 days before the start of the school year with a scheduled appointment. As a reminder, students cannot carry any medications to school. The next school year starts on August 26, so you can start to bring medications in on August 20. As summer approaches, taking a few minutes to check in with your school nurse can help avoid last-minute stress and ensure your child has what they need for a safe and healthy break. If your child uses medication regularly during the summer months, make sure you have enough supplies at home and check expiration dates on medications like inhalers and EpiPens. Summer camps, daycare programs, and sports activities may also require updated medication forms or action plans, so it is a great time to prepare early. If you have any questions or need to schedule a time to pick up or drop off medications, please contact the school health office at your child’s school.

National Water Safety Month

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we are talking about water safety and drowning prevention in honor of National Water Safety Month. May is National Water Safety Month, and we would like to take this opportunity to raise awareness about drowning prevention and helping families stay safe around water all summer long. We recommend all Meriden residents raise their awareness about water safety and drowning prevention by sharing water safety tips, enrolling in swim lessons, and staying alert around water so everyone can have a fun and safe summer. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 through 4 and the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5 through 14. It can happen quickly and often quietly, often in less than a minute and without splashing or yelling for help. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age or swimming ability. Whether you are swimming indoors at Platt or Maloney High School, outdoors at the pool at Hubbard Park, the beach, or in your own backyard, it is important to keep water safety in mind. The American Red Cross recommends the following actions to make water safety a priority [https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html?srsltid=AfmBOopESrfELu4eutE0iPjI8VFO4_cw4gGanJR3Z7iDxYyql3KOJznc]: Here are a few important tips to reduce the chance of drowning occurring: * Never leave children unattended near water. Not even for a moment. Always keep children within arm’s reach near water. Designate a “water watcher”, an adult whose only job is supervising children in or near the water without distractions like cell phones or conversations. * Empty kiddie pools and water tables after use. Drowning does not only happen in pools. Lakes, rivers, bathtubs, and even small amounts of standing water can pose risks. * Avoid swimming alone. * Pay attention to weather conditions before swimming or boating. If on a boat or participating in open-water activities, make sure everyone is wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. * Teach children basic water rules, like asking permission before going near water. Also, swimming lessons can help children and adults build confidence and essential survival skills. But remember, swimming ability does not replace supervision. * In an emergency, CPR can save a life while waiting for first responders. Consider taking a local CPR certification class. If you own a pool, install fencing with self-latching gates to help prevent unsupervised access. This is required in Meriden per Chapter 213 Section 44 [https://ecode360.com/13398123#13398123]. For more information about water safety, please visit: https://www.poolsafely.gov/ [https://www.poolsafely.gov/]

Skin Cancer Awareness Month

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we are talking about sun safety in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness of this type of cancer, steps you can take to prevent it, and early detection. As the weather continues to get warmer, more Meriden residents will be heading outdoors to enjoy our city's many parks, such as Hubbard Park, City Park, Giuffrida Park and more, or spending more time on the linear trail in South Meriden. Many will be spending time cleaning up flower beds and gardens either at home or at one of Meriden's community gardens, all which equals to more time under the sun.  Skin cancer can occur when skin cells grow abnormally, usually because of damage from ultraviolet, or UV radiation from the sun or tanning beds. The three most common types are Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, And melanoma, which is the most dangerous because it can spread quickly if not caught early. The good news is that skin cancer is highly preventable and treatable.  Preventing skin cancer does not have to be complicated. As your local health department here are some actions you can take to be sun-safe when outdoors. * Wear sunscreen every day, even if it is cloudy outside. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Reapply every two hours when outdoors, especially if swimming or sweating. Our Department distributes free sunscreen packets at events over the summer. Keep an eye out for our table at community events in Meriden such as the Farmers Market or National Night Out! * Seek shade when possible during peak hours when UV rays are strongest, which is typically between 10:00am and 4:00pm. * Wear protective clothing. Wide-brim hats, sunglasses, and lightweight long sleeves can make a big difference. Early detection saves lives. It is important to check your skin monthly for: 1. Anything NEW such as a mole or blemish especially if they appear after the age of 21. 2. Spots that are CHANGING in color, shape, size or texture, or  3. Spots that look UNUSUAL in outline or continuously itch, hurt, crust or bleed for more than three weeks.  If you see something new, changing or unusual, it is recommended to get checked out by a dermatologist. When caught early, many forms of skin cancer are highly treatable. Melanoma, for example, has a very high survival rate when detected before it spreads. That is why awareness matters so much. A five-minute skin check today could prevent a much bigger health crisis later. For more information, visit the Skin Cancer Foundation at www.skincancer.org.  [http://www.skincancer.org.]

Food Allergy Awareness Week

In this episode of A Moment with Marley, we are talking about food allergies.  May 10 through 16 is Food Allergy Awareness Week, which focuses on educating the public about the dangers of food allergies and how to keep those with allergies healthy and safe.   A food allergy happens when the immune system mistakenly identifies a certain food as harmful and reacts to it. Even tiny amounts of an allergen can trigger symptoms. Some common food allergens include: * Peanuts * Tree nuts * Milk * Eggs * Wheat * Soy * Fish * Shellfish, and * Sesame Symptoms can be mild, like hives or itching, or severe such as anaphylaxis, which affects breathing and blood pressure and requires immediate medical attention. For people with food allergies, everyday activities can involve careful planning. If you’ve ever heard someone ask, “Does this contain peanuts?” or watched a parent carefully read every ingredient label in the grocery store, you’ve seen just a small part of what daily life with food allergies can look like.   In Meriden's schools, the Public Health Nurse, and Administrators are trained on how to administer an Epi Pen auto injector. If a student with a known allergy goes on a field trip, their teacher will also become trained on how to administer an Epi Pen auto injector.  Each student has an action plan based on their specific allergies and what to do if the student has a reaction.  Per Connecticut Public Act 23-115, since 2014 select Meriden food service establishments are required to post the Connecticut Department of Public Health’s food allergen poster which includes information on: The most common allergy-causing foods * The actions a server should take when a customer notifies the server of a food allergy * The ways in which kitchen staff and servers can prevent cross contact of foods, and * The need to contact 911 if a customer has an allergic reaction while at the food establishment. You can view this poster in multiple languages on the Environmental Health webpage at www.meridenhealth.com [http://www.meridenhealth.com]. We recommend that all Meriden residents raise their awareness of common food allergies, how to identify potential allergens on food packaging and menus, learn the signs of anaphylaxis, and learn how to use an Epi Pen auto injector and nasal spray. Questions? Visit the Food Allergy and Research Education website at www.foodallergy.org [http://www.foodallergy.org].