Schedule physical exams now and beat the rush Published May 7, 2009 By 96th Medical Group EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Florida law requires students from kindergarten through 12th grade to have a physical exam every year to enter school. Leadership at the Eglin clinic encourages parents to beat the rush and plan physical exams now for the 2009-2010 school year. The clinic says there's always a mad rush of physicals just before school starts, and often families schedule more than one exam during the year. In most cases, one exam is valid for school and extracurricular activities, like sports and scouting, for one calendar year of the exam date. For school attendance, an exam must be performed after April 1 and before the child begins school. Both Eglin's Cherokee Elementary School and the Youth Center follow the same requirements. The clinic leadership at Eglin recommends that you plan for your child's physical beginning now. This exam, as with all medical appointments, is best done by the child's primary care manager. The clinic staff will look for opportunities to perform the physical examination during an already scheduled appointment when possible, so please bring any physical paperwork along to your child's appointment. To schedule a school physical exam, call the Eglin appointment line at 883-8600. Additional information for parents is available on the Florida Department of Health Web site at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Family/School/parent/parent_info.html.