Though the heat is far from over, the last days of summer break are upon us. To help parents prepare for the upcoming school year, South Florida Baptist Hospital is offering a unique opportunity to get ahead on kids’ health requirements.
In conjunction with the Hillsborough County Back to School Coalition, SFBH’s Community Health Department will offer free back to school physicals from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 27 at the Swindle Medical Arts Center, 1601 W. Timberlane Drive. Any new student to a Florida school in the grades from Kindergarten to 12 are welcome to take advantage of the free event.
“The hospital has always wanted to provide services for the community,” Beverly Littlejohn, communications coordinator for St. Joseph’s Hospital and SFBH, said. “Its been our mission to improve the health of all we serve and that’s one way we do that. We really want to offer that benefit to the community.”
The sports, Head Start and child care physicals are not available at this time. But the screenings offered cover vision, blood pressure and height and weight.
On top of the physicals, any uninsured children in the same grade range can get free school-required immunizations at the event. To attend, parents need to have their immunization records available if their child is to receive a shot. Parents or legal guardians must accompany their children, regardless of age, to the event.
“The primary goal of the back-to-school physicals is to extend free and necessary school health screenings to community families so that no child will be excluded from starting school on time due to a lack of school physical or immunization requirements,” SFBH said in a news release.
SFBH has been offering the free service to the community since 2002. Each year, approximately eight BayCare team members work the event, which is also staffed by 10 to 15 volunteers. Several of those volunteers include school nurses.
Even if your child doesn’t need a physical or immunizations, there is more than likely something at the event you will benefit from. The lobby is always full and this year will be no exception. There are 13 vendors signed up to participate including BayCare Health insurance Navigators, Faith Community nurses, local physicians, Crisis Center, legal services, Suncoast Community Center and many more.
OneBlood will also be on site in case parents or other community members would like to drop by and donate blood.
To make an appointment
Register at www.back2schoolfair.org. SFBH will be accepting registrations up until 5 p.m the day before the event. When you sign up you’ll be able to select a time window to attend. If you didn’t register in time you’re welcome to drop by as a walk-in, but you will have to wait for an opening to be seen.