Back to School Essentials for Toddlers to Teens

Aug 31, 2022 First Aid

Whether your child is heading into nursery or reception class or running towards GCSE years, back to school takes similar preparation, at least when it comes to healthcare. After a long summer break, the Christmas hols, Easter or even just half term many people find that as soon their children get back into the classroom they come down with something or have a playground bump. 

 

That is why from first aid to skincare and from coughs and colds to headlice, here at SimplyMedOnline we have what you need to cope with those first weeks back at school, and beyond.

 

 

Head Lice - Irritating But Not the End of the World

 

Does anyone else itch when they hear about headlice or nits? Sorry about that. The thing is, they are very common and thankfully fairly easy to deal with. A lice comb and head lice treatment such as Full Marks, Hedrin or Lyclear, as well as some time, are usually all you need to clear active lice and eggs from your child’s head.

Remember, lice aren’t picky. Make sure to be vigilant, tie up long hair where appropriate and check the whole family if head lice are found. More information on how to deal with headlice can be found here.

 

Is Your First Aid Kit Stocked Up?

 

Despite the power of a wet paper towel at school children and teens can still need a little extra first aid help from home once the term starts. From bumps and scrapes on the playground to minor PE/gym injuries, having a well-stocked first aid kit can be very helpful. To make easing tears easier, Elastoplast has a range of fun plasters that can distract and delight little ones who have been in the wars. Our kid’s plaster range includes Paw Patrol, Frozen and Marvel plasters. Of course, novelty plasters can be useful for grown-ups too. Who doesn’t love Elsa? 

 

Not sure what should be in a first aid kit? This guide from St John’s Ambulance is a good place to start. We stock a wide range of first aid box contents and items so that you can have what you need to hand when you need it. Other handy family health items to have to hand include Calpol or Nurofen for children and a good quality thermometer.

 

Colds and Coughs are a Season Nuisance - Be Prepared!
 

Coughs and colds always seem to appear a couple of weeks into the new term as kids start mixing again, especially little ones. We do teach children to share though which is why the whole household is at risk of the usual seasonal sniffles and similar. 

Thankfully there are some great cold season products on the market these days, which alongside super soft tissues can help you through. Calcough, the children’s blackcurrant flavoured cough syrup, for example, is good to have to hand when dealing with coughs and the resulting dry, tickly and sore throats. 

One of the hardest times when anyone, of any age, has a bad cold, is night-time. You want to sleep but you’re all stuffed up. An extra pillow to prop someone up can help but many love the ease of a vapour plug. Acting as a useful nightlight which only switches on when the lights are turned off as well as releasing lavender and chamomile vapours, this Calpol vapour plug can help with clear and easy breathing, making it easy to fall asleep and stay asleep.

 

Vitamins for Back to School and Beyond

 

For some, especially when it comes to the darker months and back to school, taking a vitamin supplement regularly can help give a gentle boost, topping the whole family up for the months ahead. This can play a positive part in your daily health routine. 

Even better, it couldn’t be easier to get your vitamin fill. Vitamins for children, such as Wellkid gummies offer an easy-to-take nutritional boost for younger ones and those not keen on taking tablets. Multivitamins are great for all ages and with Haliborange and WellTeen available it’s never been easier to make sure that your family have what they need for the back to school period and beyond.

 

Back to School Allergies and Remedies

While we’d all like to think that allergies will pass once the summer is over that isn’t always the case for some people. We recommend keeping your regular antihistamines in stock as well as considering Pirition and a topical antihistamine for bites and string that can occur heading into autumn. Wasps especially tend to be more grouchy than usual and quicker to sting as the weather cools. 

The other irritating menace that comes with being at school is chicken pox. If caught, a product such as Virasoothe Chickenpox Relief can make all the difference to keeping those affected cool and more comfortable.

 

Conclusion

The back-to-school period isn’t all doom and gloom (once you’ve cost through the uniform and shoe shopping and first-day tears or grumbles). A new term brings new experiences and adventures. To minimise the downsides, i.e. coughs and colds, scrapes and bruises, make sure that you and your family have everything you need for a positive and healthy new term and beyond. 

Make sure that when it comes to back-to-school health-related products you always check the instructions for age and dosage usage and check with a pharmacist if in any doubt about suitability or safety.