General Medicines

We recommend stocking up on some general medicines that are handy to have ‘just in case’. From hand sanitiser, to fever medication, Hydralyte, pain relief and worming treatment, these are great to keep in your child’s school bag or at home in case of emergencies.

Be sure to communicate with the school if your child has a medical condition, and we recommend letting them know what medication your child is carrying in case of emergency.

Does your child have asthma?

If so, ensure the asthma inhalers are labelled, in date and in good condition. Do you have your child’s asthma action plan ready? Your child's asthma action plan can be created with your GP, and should be kept in a safe place. Not sure what an asthma action plan is? Ask your local Ramsay Pharmacist! Make sure anyone caring for your child knows your child has asthma and understands what to do during an asthma episode.

Does your child have allergies?

Does your child suffer from allergies or comes home with a runny nose after school? Nasal congestion often keeps children from sleeping well at night, which creates a struggle for them to stay awake during the day. It can also worsen asthma symptoms in those children who live with asthma. Make sure your child has antihistamines available for these less severe allergies.

Anaphylaxis symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Sometimes, however, anaphylaxis can occur a half-hour or longer after exposure. In rare cases, anaphylaxis may be delayed for hours. Does your child require a EpiPen for school? If so, is it labelled and in date?

Make sure your child and any carers are familiar with EpiPen administration and you have your allergy or anaphylaxis plan ready.

When using an EpiPen, place the orange tip against the outer mid-thigh of the child, and remember to remove the blue safety release first. Remember the rhyme: “orange to the thigh and blue to the sky”.Note: there is no need to 'swing and jab'. A sudden jab may cause the child to jump, and the needle may be discharged before the adrenaline is injected.

Sun Protection

Children spend a great deal of time outdoors, it’s a normal part of childhood. However, it also means that your child is exposed to significant amounts of UV radiation. In fact, children are exposed to three times more radiation annually than adults. In addition to applying sunscreen (and don’t forget to pack some in their school bag!), protect your child from UV radiation by having them wear sunglasses.

Head lice protection and treatment

Head lice, nits, creepy crawlies. From little ones in day care who love putting their heads together, right through to the teenagers taking selfies or sharing a hairbrush. Head lice are regular visitors in Australian households.

The presence of head lice is a very common occurrence in schools and the primary responsibly for the management and treatment of head lice belongs with the parents or carers. We highly recommend having headlice treatment on hand at home just in case your child comes home with a few extra friends in their hair. Speak to your local Ramsay Pharmacist for advice on different treatments and find what’ll suit you best as there’s a huge range of chemical and natural treatments available.

That back to school feeling…

While returning to school can be very exciting for some, it can be stressful for others. No matter what a child or teenager’s age, anticipating and responding quickly to school related stress is important.

Ramsay Psychology has highly qualified and experienced psychologists available to help children, teens and families develop resilience, coping skills, and manage mental wellbeing during school transitions. Ramsay Psychology also works with parents on coping with school transitions and managing school life for themselves, as well as their children.

Click here to find your local Ramsay Psychology.

Click here to find your local Ramsay Pharmacy.