School is once again in session and this means its time for kids to buckle down and get back to work.

But going back to school means more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Health officials are advising kids to get their body into a routine by going to bed early and at the same time every night.

They also say its vital to eat breakfast every morning in order to be alert throughout the day.

Other recommendations include regular hand washing hands to help prevent illness.

"So many of those viruses are airborne so one sneeze can infect a classroom in a short period of time," says registered nurse Susan Sederberg.

Even backpacks can pose a health risk.

The experts say parents should make sure their child's bag isn't too heavy for them to carry.

"An 80 pound child should really carry no more than 12 pounds on their backpack," says Sederberg.

Another important warning has to do with the school bus.

When it comes to bus safety school officials say the most important thing is to educate kids to stay out of the danger zone, which lies 10 feet around the entire bus.

More than 90% of bus accidents happen in that danger zone.
While on the bus, for safety sake, parents should warn kids to remain seated and follow the driver's instructions.

"They have to maintain proper behavior. Otherwise, the school district can remove their privileges from riding the school bus," says Duluth School District Transportation manager Ken Willms.

Proper immunizations are another key to good health.
Starting this school year some new vaccination laws have gone into effect.

Wisconsin now requires a dose of Tdap (tetnus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) vaccine for students entering grades 6, 9, and 12 and a second dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for students entering kindergarten, 6th, and 12th grade.

These vaccines are important not only for protecting the health of your child, but for their sibling as well.