Clinic

As per the Code of Virginia and state legislation, the school division must comply with all requirements for immunizations as pertaining to school age children. There are specific regulations for DPT, Polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, and Varicella. In July 2006, legislation was passed requiring a pertussis booster for students entering 6th grade. Lack of compliance with vaccine requirements can result in students being excluded from school until compliance, or a plan for compliance is achieved.

November is Great American Smokeout Month, but every month is a great month to quit. Help your smoking teen quit. For more information see Deborah Longwell in the clinic.

Reasons to Quit!

• 20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
• 12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• 2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
• 1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
• 1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.
• 5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
• 10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
• 15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker's.