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One of the most common misconceptions is that head lice only happen to the poor, the unclean, or the uneducated. For a long time, it was thought that people got head lice only from being in filthy environments or because of poor hygiene. We know that isn’t true. Head lice are found on children who attend any school, who shampoo daily and have short or long hair. In fact head lice prefer a clean head. It can happen to anyone.
Head lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are tan or grayish and are often difficult to see. They like to be in dark places and will quickly hide under hair when you part it to look for them. It is usually easier to find the nits or eggs. Nits are whitish and teardrop shaped and very tiny. You will find them attached to the hair. They are “glued” on and are difficult to remove. Head lice can’t fly or jump, so don’t be concerned when you are looking for them.
If you are certain your child has head lice, check other family members. Everyone infested should be treated at the same time. Don’t worry about the family pet, head lice only live on people. Please inform the school ASAP so that the spread in your child’s classroom can be limited.
Children cannot ride the school bus until the school nurse has checked the child.
To successfully treat head lice several steps need to be followed:
1. Use of a lice (pediculicide) shampoo. There are several brands available, without prescription, at local pharmacies. Consult with your doctor before using any lice product on pregnant/nursing women, infants, or those with allergies. Read the label carefully and follow directions. Apply the shampoo to dry hair. Wetting the hair first makes it less effective. It is best to do this over a sink as this keeps the shampoo on the scalp only. Make sure behind the ears and the nape of the neck is treated thoroughly. If you notice swollen glands in the neck or under the arm, or scratch marks can be seen, infection may be present. Consult with your doctor before giving any treatment.
2. Comb out the nits while the hair is still wet. Use the comb that came with the shampoo or a separate one can be purchased. Many people find a metal comb more effective and it can be sterilized and re-used. It is time consuming but very important to remove all of the nits. If you are having a lot of difficulty, some people find that a vinegar rinse helps to loosen the nits. After you are done with this, shampoo with a regular shampoo. Check daily and keep removing any nits that might have been missed. A second treatment, 7-10 days after the first treatment, may be necessary to eliminate any new nits or lice. If after these two treatments the problem still exists consult with your doctor. Remember your child has to be “nit free” to return to school.
3. Since lice can survive off the body for several hours and nits for longer, it is important that your immediate environment be cleaned. Vacuum carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture and mattresses. Wash recently worn clothing, towels, sheet and linens in hot, soapy water and dry in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. Items that can’t be washed can be vacuumed or placed in a plastic bag and sealed for 2 weeks. Soak all combs and hairbrushes in hot water (130 degrees) or in rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes. Vacuum your car seats and headrests.
Do not use sprays-they are not effective and are potentially harmful to humans and pets. All of these measures take time and patience, but should limit the spread of head lice in your family and in school. If you have any questions about head lice and treatment, I am more than happy to help you with the answers.
If you have a computer handy go to the National Pediculosis Association web site at www.headlice.org. They have a wealth of information.
Nurse Donna
14 Ağustos 2012 Salı
The Flu~A Guide for Parents
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Looks like the Influenza Season may be starting earlier than usual...
What is the flu?
The flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that is caused by influenza virus. The flu can spread from person to person. Most people with flu are sick for about a week, but then feel better. However, some people (especially young children, pregnant women, older people, and people with chronic health problems) can get very sick and some can die.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Most people with the flu feel tired and have fever (usually high), headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. Cough can last two or more weeks
How does the flu spread?
People that have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose. This makes droplets with virus in them. Other people can get the flu by breathing in these droplets, getting them in their nose or mouth, or touching contaminated surfaces
How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?
Healthy adults may be able to spread the flu from 1 day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease as well (people with weakened immune systems).
How can I protect my child from the flu?
A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 19th birthday get a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children getting a vaccine for the first time need two doses).
• Flu shots can be given to children 6 months and older.
• A nasal-spray vaccine can be given to healthy children 2 years and older (children under 5 years old who have had wheezing in the past year or any child with chronic health problems should get the flu shot).
• You can protect your child by getting a flu vaccine for yourself too. Also encourage your child’s close contacts to get a flu vaccine. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).
Is there medicine to treat the flu?
There are antiviral drugs for children 1 year and older that can make your child feel better and get better sooner. But these drugs need to be approved by a doctor. They should be started during the first 2 days that your child is sick for them to work best. Your doctor can discuss with you if these drugs are right for your child.
How else can I protect my child against flu?
1. Take time to get a flu vaccine and get your child vaccinated too.
2. Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs. This includes:
- Clean your hands often and cover your coughs and sneezes
- Tell your child to:
- Stay away from people who are sick
- Clean hands often
- Keep hands away from face
- Cover coughs and sneezes to protect others (it’s best to use a tissue and throw it away).
What should I use for hand cleaning?
Washing hands with soap and water (for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice) will help protect your child from many different germs. When soap and water are not available, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used (the gels should be rubbed into your hands until they are dry).
What can I do if my child gets sick?
Consult your doctor and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks a lot of fluids. If your child is older than 2 years, you can buy medicine (over-the-counter) without a prescription that might make your child feel better. Be careful with these medicines and follow the instructions on the package. But never give aspirin or medicine that has aspirin in it to children or teenagers who may have the flu.
What if my child seems very sick?
Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child:
• has a high fever or fever that lasts a long time
• has trouble breathing or breathes fast
• has skin that looks blue
• is not drinking enough
• seems confused, will not wake up, does not want to be held, or has seizures (uncontrolled shaking)
• gets better but then worse again
• has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes) that get worse
Can my child go to school if he or she is sick?
No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children.
Should my child go to school if other children are sick?
It is not unusual for some children in school to get sick during the winter months. If many children get sick, it is up to you to decide whether to send your child to school. You might want to check with your doctor, especially if your child has other health problems.
When can my child go back to school after having the flu?
Keep your child home from school until his or her temperature has been normal for 24 hours. Remind your child to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, to protect others (you may want to send some tissue and wipes or gels with alcohol in them to school with your child).
Wishing you all good health,
Nurse Donna
What is the flu?
The flu (influenza) is an infection of the nose, throat, and lungs that is caused by influenza virus. The flu can spread from person to person. Most people with flu are sick for about a week, but then feel better. However, some people (especially young children, pregnant women, older people, and people with chronic health problems) can get very sick and some can die.
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Most people with the flu feel tired and have fever (usually high), headache, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and sore muscles. Some people, especially children, may also have stomach problems and diarrhea. Cough can last two or more weeks
How does the flu spread?
People that have the flu usually cough, sneeze, and have a runny nose. This makes droplets with virus in them. Other people can get the flu by breathing in these droplets, getting them in their nose or mouth, or touching contaminated surfaces
How long can a sick person spread the flu to others?
Healthy adults may be able to spread the flu from 1 day before getting sick to up to 5 days after getting sick. This can be longer in children and in people who don’t fight disease as well (people with weakened immune systems).
How can I protect my child from the flu?
A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu. CDC recommends that all children from the ages of 6 months up to their 19th birthday get a flu vaccine every fall or winter (children getting a vaccine for the first time need two doses).
• Flu shots can be given to children 6 months and older.
• A nasal-spray vaccine can be given to healthy children 2 years and older (children under 5 years old who have had wheezing in the past year or any child with chronic health problems should get the flu shot).
• You can protect your child by getting a flu vaccine for yourself too. Also encourage your child’s close contacts to get a flu vaccine. This is very important if your child is younger than 5 or has a chronic health problem like asthma (breathing disease) or diabetes (high blood sugar levels).
Is there medicine to treat the flu?
There are antiviral drugs for children 1 year and older that can make your child feel better and get better sooner. But these drugs need to be approved by a doctor. They should be started during the first 2 days that your child is sick for them to work best. Your doctor can discuss with you if these drugs are right for your child.
How else can I protect my child against flu?
1. Take time to get a flu vaccine and get your child vaccinated too.
2. Take everyday steps to prevent the spread of germs. This includes:
- Clean your hands often and cover your coughs and sneezes
- Tell your child to:
- Stay away from people who are sick
- Clean hands often
- Keep hands away from face
- Cover coughs and sneezes to protect others (it’s best to use a tissue and throw it away).
What should I use for hand cleaning?
Washing hands with soap and water (for as long as it takes to sing the Happy Birthday song twice) will help protect your child from many different germs. When soap and water are not available, wipes or gels with alcohol in them can be used (the gels should be rubbed into your hands until they are dry).
What can I do if my child gets sick?
Consult your doctor and make sure your child gets plenty of rest and drinks a lot of fluids. If your child is older than 2 years, you can buy medicine (over-the-counter) without a prescription that might make your child feel better. Be careful with these medicines and follow the instructions on the package. But never give aspirin or medicine that has aspirin in it to children or teenagers who may have the flu.
What if my child seems very sick?
Call or take your child to a doctor right away if your child:
• has a high fever or fever that lasts a long time
• has trouble breathing or breathes fast
• has skin that looks blue
• is not drinking enough
• seems confused, will not wake up, does not want to be held, or has seizures (uncontrolled shaking)
• gets better but then worse again
• has other conditions (like heart or lung disease, diabetes) that get worse
Can my child go to school if he or she is sick?
No. Your child should stay home to rest and to avoid giving the flu to other children.
Should my child go to school if other children are sick?
It is not unusual for some children in school to get sick during the winter months. If many children get sick, it is up to you to decide whether to send your child to school. You might want to check with your doctor, especially if your child has other health problems.
When can my child go back to school after having the flu?
Keep your child home from school until his or her temperature has been normal for 24 hours. Remind your child to cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing, to protect others (you may want to send some tissue and wipes or gels with alcohol in them to school with your child).
Wishing you all good health,
Nurse Donna
Strep Throat Is Still Among Us
To contact us Click HERE
Please be advised that we are continuing to see a great deal of Strep Throat in in our classrooms at this time.
If you child develops a fever or sore throat, DO NOT send your child to school and PLEASE follow up with your family physician immediately for treatment options.
Should a unknown rash develop please seek medical attention as strep w/rash is also known as “Scarlet Fever
***Symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, vomiting and red, swollen tonsils***
Now is the time to reinforce proper hand washing techniques at home with your children and remind them not put their fingers in their mouth, nose or eyes as they are the 3 ways by which viruses enter the body.
Wishing everyone a healthy day,
Nurse Donna
If you child develops a fever or sore throat, DO NOT send your child to school and PLEASE follow up with your family physician immediately for treatment options.
Should a unknown rash develop please seek medical attention as strep w/rash is also known as “Scarlet Fever
***Symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, vomiting and red, swollen tonsils***
Now is the time to reinforce proper hand washing techniques at home with your children and remind them not put their fingers in their mouth, nose or eyes as they are the 3 ways by which viruses enter the body.
Wishing everyone a healthy day,
Nurse Donna
Dressing For The Weather IS Necessary..
To contact us Click HERE
Dressing for school can be a guessing game. Some day’s we are warm, some days are a bit cool. A very cool morning can change to a warm afternoon for recess, or a cold front can move it with a surprising chill. Air-conditioning and heating a large building is a challenge as the weather fluctuates. It can take up to 24 hours to adjust the heating system.
Students are encouraged to dress in layers so they can be comfortable to learn. Wearing light shirts and pants with a sweatshirt in the backpack can be a formula for comfort. Please check with your child to make sure they have a sweatshirt in their backpack if needed.
Nurse Donna
Dressing for school can be a guessing game. Some day’s we are warm, some days are a bit cool. A very cool morning can change to a warm afternoon for recess, or a cold front can move it with a surprising chill. Air-conditioning and heating a large building is a challenge as the weather fluctuates. It can take up to 24 hours to adjust the heating system.Students are encouraged to dress in layers so they can be comfortable to learn. Wearing light shirts and pants with a sweatshirt in the backpack can be a formula for comfort. Please check with your child to make sure they have a sweatshirt in their backpack if needed.
Nurse Donna
Summer Eye Safety
To contact us Click HERE
PROTECT EYES FROM THE SUN
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays without proper eye protection may cause short and long-term damage to the eyes. Eye doctors encourage adults and children to protect their eyes by wearing a hat or sunglasses that properly absorb UV radiation. Children are especially at risk because the effects of sunlight exposure are cumulative with 80% of lifetime UV exposure received by age 18. No matter the location or activity, if you’re outside in the sun you should wear a hat or sunglasses, even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days. Children should wear UV blocking sunglasses to reduce the amount of light entering the eye, protect against harmful UV light, decrease glare, and increase contrast. A dark lens does not necessarily have UV protection—look for lenses that absorb 99 to 100 percent of UV light.
PROTECT EYES WHILE PLAYING SPORTS
Helmets prevent head injury, but often do not protect the eyes. Make sure children are wearing a polycarbonate face guard or other certified safe protection. Prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses typically do not provide adequate protection for sports use. Lenses in sports eyewear usually are made of polycarbonate, which has built-in ultraviolet protection—a valuable feature for outdoor sports. Visit www.playhardgear.com for information about obtaining protective sports eyewear at no charge.
PROTECT EYES WHILE DOING HOUSEHOLD PROJECTS
A common injury in the summertime is a scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion). Sanding, spray painting, working under cars, leaf blowing or lawn mowing are frequent activities that result in corneal abrasions. Safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses and side shields should be worn whenever there is a risk of particles flying. If a foreign body is in the eye, it may not cause immediate pain, and material embedded in the eye is usually too small to see by the naked eye. Call an eye doctor and irrigate the eye thoroughly with water or saline.
PROTECT EYES FROM CHEMICALS
While swimming is a favorite summertime activity, it can lose its appeal quickly if eye safety is forgotten. Wearing swimming goggles keeps irritating chemicals and germs out of children’s eyes while they swim. Adults and children should not wear contact lenses in the pool. The surface tension holding the contacts in will be washed away by water. Infection can also result from untreated lake or pond water getting under the lens. If eyes sting from swimming in a pool, it may mean the chemicals aren't balanced. If the pool water hurts the eyes, get out of the pool. If the eyes continue to burn, rinse immediately with clean water. If the stinging persists, see an eye doctor.
Bug repellant is another chemical to watch out for. To avoid getting repellant in the eyes, spray it on the hands first and then apply to the face. If bug repellant gets in the eyes, flush with lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
Have a safe Summer~
Nurse Donna
Exposure to the sun’s UV rays without proper eye protection may cause short and long-term damage to the eyes. Eye doctors encourage adults and children to protect their eyes by wearing a hat or sunglasses that properly absorb UV radiation. Children are especially at risk because the effects of sunlight exposure are cumulative with 80% of lifetime UV exposure received by age 18. No matter the location or activity, if you’re outside in the sun you should wear a hat or sunglasses, even on cloudy, cool, or overcast days. Children should wear UV blocking sunglasses to reduce the amount of light entering the eye, protect against harmful UV light, decrease glare, and increase contrast. A dark lens does not necessarily have UV protection—look for lenses that absorb 99 to 100 percent of UV light.
PROTECT EYES WHILE PLAYING SPORTS
Helmets prevent head injury, but often do not protect the eyes. Make sure children are wearing a polycarbonate face guard or other certified safe protection. Prescription eyeglasses or sunglasses typically do not provide adequate protection for sports use. Lenses in sports eyewear usually are made of polycarbonate, which has built-in ultraviolet protection—a valuable feature for outdoor sports. Visit www.playhardgear.com for information about obtaining protective sports eyewear at no charge.
PROTECT EYES WHILE DOING HOUSEHOLD PROJECTS
A common injury in the summertime is a scratch on the surface of the eye (corneal abrasion). Sanding, spray painting, working under cars, leaf blowing or lawn mowing are frequent activities that result in corneal abrasions. Safety goggles with polycarbonate lenses and side shields should be worn whenever there is a risk of particles flying. If a foreign body is in the eye, it may not cause immediate pain, and material embedded in the eye is usually too small to see by the naked eye. Call an eye doctor and irrigate the eye thoroughly with water or saline.
PROTECT EYES FROM CHEMICALS
While swimming is a favorite summertime activity, it can lose its appeal quickly if eye safety is forgotten. Wearing swimming goggles keeps irritating chemicals and germs out of children’s eyes while they swim. Adults and children should not wear contact lenses in the pool. The surface tension holding the contacts in will be washed away by water. Infection can also result from untreated lake or pond water getting under the lens. If eyes sting from swimming in a pool, it may mean the chemicals aren't balanced. If the pool water hurts the eyes, get out of the pool. If the eyes continue to burn, rinse immediately with clean water. If the stinging persists, see an eye doctor.
Bug repellant is another chemical to watch out for. To avoid getting repellant in the eyes, spray it on the hands first and then apply to the face. If bug repellant gets in the eyes, flush with lukewarm water for 15 minutes.
Have a safe Summer~
Nurse Donna
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