With August nearly upon us, getting kids ready for school becomes a priority for parents and health care officials.

Local health officials want to remind parents of the requirements their kids have to meet to begin the school year. Dave Remmert is the Public Health Administrator for the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department, he says children entering kindergarten need to have their eyes checked. He says the Health Department does not provide the opportunity for that to get done, however, local providers gladly will do that exam.

[audio:schoolhealth1.mp3]A Word From Remmert[/audio]

When one thinks of getting ready for going back to school and seeing a doctor, the automatic response is the school physical. Remmert says there are a variety of places to get those taken care of. He says anyone entering kindergarten, fifth and ninth grade are required to get those.

[audio:schoolhealth2.mp3]A Word From Remmert[/audio]

One newer requirement students have to meet is a dental exam. Remmert says this has come out in the past 5 years. He says any student entering kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade need to have a dental exam. Remmert notes students have the whole school year to comply with this requirement. The dental exams can be taken care of at the health department thanks to the new dental clinic the health department offers now.

[audio:schoolhealth3.mp3]A Word From Remmert[/audio]

Remmert says some school districts will not allow for students who do not have the requirements met to come to school until the requirements are met. If parents have kids needing any of these exams to begin the process of getting them taken care of now.

For more information about the health exam requirements, you can contact the DeWitt/Piatt Bi-County Health Department at 935-3427 in Clinton or at 762-7911 in Monticello.