Sacramento CA, September 15, 2005 — This year, the California School Nurses Organization and VSP are encouraging parents to take a different approach with back-to-school activities by guaranteeing their student's visual and physical health and then maintaining it throughout the school year.

In fact, according to the two organizations, several often overlooked areas are critical to a student's success, including:

• proper eye exams;
• vaccinations; and
• healthy breakfasts.

Parents are reminded to start this year with a visit to the eye doctor for a proper eye exam and then a routine visit to their pediatrician for current vaccines. And, to maintain good health, parents are encouraged to provide breakfast before each school day.

Considering that most of what students learn is on the blackboard or in books, parents need to realize the importance of proper eyecare. Thorough eye exams and follow-up are critical because many children will not complain about poor eyesight and may not even realize that the fuzzy images they see are abnormal.

According to VSP doctor John Funnell, O.D., "visual impairment can be detrimental to a child's development and their ability to learn in school, largely manifested through attention span deficits."

Dr. Funnell, from Manhattan Beach, Calif., strongly encourages full examinations for students, stressing that quick tests administered at school might miss important development problems. "Parents need to approach their child's eye examinations with the same amount of attention and vigilance they monitor their child's physical health."

To that end, parents are also reminded to help prevent any long-term illness-related absences by making sure their child's vaccinations are up to date. While the majority of vaccinations are administered to children during their first 18 months, several vaccinations and follow-ups should be dispensed to children as they grow older. This preventative medicine will go a long way in helping to protect kids from serious illnesses that will force them to miss crucial class time.

Once parents make sure their child's visual and physical health are completely ready for active learning, it is important to maintain their well-being throughout the school year. And this starts at home — at the breakfast table to be exact. Not only does breakfast provide many of the nutrients kids need to maintain their health, the USDA confirms that kids learn better if they eat breakfast.

"When kids eat a nutritious breakfast, they are more attentive during class. Students will be more equipped to focus their attention on schoolwork when they are not thinking about hunger pains," stressed Cathy Owens, Public Relations Chair for the California School Nurses Organization (CSNO).

Doctor's visits and breakfast seem like an easy enough approach for successful learning. And to make it even easier, credentialed school nurses can assist with vision assessment and referrals, low-cost vaccination clinics, or other health related needs and information. Parents are encouraged to refocus some of their back-to-school energy from new school supplies to these simple steps that will provide their students with the resources to enjoy a rewarding and educational school year.

About CSNO
CSNO was formed almost 50 years ago with a goal to promote and strengthen its members in their role as the primary health professional within the educational community. This is accomplished through professional development, legislative advocacy, membership communication, membership recruitment, governance and leadership development. Today, CSNO boasts a membership of approximately 1,400 who serve children from birth through 22 years of age in all school settings throughout California. For more information, please visit CSNO online at www.csno.org.

About VSP
VSP provides eyecare benefit plans that range from comprehensive eye examinations and materials to complete medical and surgical eyecare. With more than 41 million members nationwide, one in eight people in the United States relies on VSP for eyecare health coverage. VSP's Sight for Students program has helped more than 250,000 low-income/uninsured children receive free eyecare services since its inception in 1997. VSP, a company with over $2 billion in annual gross revenue, has been recognized by Fortune Magazine for the sixth consecutive year as one of best places to work in America. For more information, visit us online at www.vsp.com.

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