Community Calendar

As a new school year begins, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital encourages everyone to make the health and safety of your family a priority. Every parent wants their child to have a successful year, and taking time to consider their needs for health and safety can help them start the year off right. 

1. 1.     Make healthy choices. Talk to your child about healthy food choices at home and at school.
2. 2.     Play sports safely.If your child participates in sports, schedule a sports physical with your doctor and speak with your child about sports safety. Make sure your child has required safety equipment for her/his sport, and know the concussion ABCs—assess the situation, be alert for signs and symptoms, and contact a health care professional.
3. 3.     Be good to your back.Choose a backpack with wide shoulder straps and make sure your child uses both straps evenly across theHaving all the weight over one shoulder can lead to muscle strain. Advise your child to pack lightly. A backpack should never weigh more than 10-20 percent of your child’s body weight.
4. 4.     Fight the spread of germs.Before your child goes back to school make sure he/she understands the importance of proper hand washing. Soap and water can do wonders in reducing your child's risk of illness. A child should wash his/her hands properly before eating and after using the restroom.
5. 5.     Turn off the screens.Set a limit to screen time of two hours or less each day.
6. 6.     Get enough sleep.School-aged children need at least 10 hours a day of sleep.
7. 7.     Be safe while on the roads.Children should always use a seatbelt and placed in car seats appropriate for their age. Talk to your child about safety while at the bus stop and crossing roads.

For more information on back to school health, visit http://www.cdc.gov/family/kids/.

For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit St. Anthony’s Web site atstanthonyshospital.org.  HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese, HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville, and HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.

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About Hospital Sisters Health System

Hospital Sisters Health System’s (HSHS) mission is to reveal and embody Christ’s healing love for all people through our high quality, Franciscan health care ministry. HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care to our patients and is dedicated to serving all people, especially the most vulnerable, at each of our 14 Local Systems and physician practices in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Greenville, Highland, Litchfield, and Springfield) and Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Oconto Falls, Sheboygan, and two in Green Bay). HSHS is sponsored by Hospital Sisters Ministries, andHospital Sisters of St. Francisis the founding institute. For more information about HSHS, visitwww.hshs.org.  For more information about Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, visitwww.hospitalsisters.org.