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Nurse

 

Welcome to a new school year! Just a few reminders and healthful hints from your school nurse!

 

Forms:  Emergency Care Information forms are to be completed by parents/guardians each year. It is important to be able to reach you in case of a medical emergency, so please return these forms to your child’s teacher as soon as possible.

Medications:  Whenever possible, medication should be scheduled during non-school hours. However, in the event your child needs medication during school hours, please be sure to have the “Authorization to Administer Medication” form completed by your child’s physician and returned to the school nurse. All medications (prescription and non-prescription) must be sent in the original container, sealed, and labeled with the child’s name.  Prescribed antibiotics may be given for up to fourteen days without a physician’s note, but need to be in a properly labeled pharmacy container that can remain a the school.

Epi-Pens, Inhalers, and Injectable medications require a separate authorization form.  All medication should be hand-delivered to the nurse’s office by the parent/guardian.  Children should not be transporting medication to school in their backpacks or lunch boxes.

Screenings:  All students in Kindergarten, First and Third grade students in the district will have vision and hearing screening performed this year.  If there is an abnormal finding, parents will be notified by letter. Please contact the school nurse if you have any concerns regarding your child and the screening process.         

Illness/Injury:  If your child is ill or injured during school hours, he/she will be assessed by a Registered Nurse.  You will not be contacted each time your child visits the school nurse, however, in the event your child appears to have a serious illness/injury, every effort will be made to notify you.  Please be sure all phone numbers and health care information is kept current throughout the school year.

Children with temperature of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home immediately.  Please keep students home from school until they remain fever-free (below 100 degrees) for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication.   Children with other symptoms of a possibly communicable disease will also be sent home from school at the discretion of the school nurse.  If your child has been diagnosed with a possibly contagious illness, such as flu or strep throat, please notify the school nurse.

Lice:  Head lice are a common community problem. They are not dangerous and do not transmit disease.  The school nurse will notify parents of the student with lice or nits and recommend treatment that evening.  The student will not be sent home and may return to school the next day if they have received home treatment.  A letter will not be sent to other parents in that classroom unless an unusual clustering of active head lice cases (3 or more) is discovered in the classroom.

Food Allergies/Outside Food:  Many students have food allergies.  It is imperative that parents notify the school nurse and the child’s teacher of any food allergies as soon as possible.  In order to keep all students safe, we encourage that parents DO NOT bring in outside food, other than lunches and healthy snacks for their own child’s consumption. A food allergy can turn into a potentially life-threatening situation. Parents are encouraged to consider books, pencils, or other non-food items for birthdays, parties, and end of year celebrations.

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Flu season will be upon us very soon so we think it is a good time to provide you with some suggestions and helpful information about the flu. We will make every effort to have a flu mist/shot clinic at the school as soon as flu vaccines are available

 

FLU FACTS/INFORMATION: The flu is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. Although the flu affects everyone, children tend to get it more often than adults. The season for the flu is usually from November to April with most cases occurring between late December and early March.

The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms tend to develop quickly (usually 1 to 4 days after a person is exposed to the flu virus) and are usually more severe than the typical sneezing and stuffiness of a cold.

Symptoms of the Flu may include:

  • Fever

  • Muscle aches, Tiredness, Runny nose, Ear infection

  • Chills, Headache

  • Dizziness

  • Cough

  • Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea

  • Loss of appetite, Sore throat, Weakness

Symptoms can last for a week or two. The flu is very contagious. Coughing or sneezing into the air spreads the flu. People who are infected with the flu are contagious as long as they show symptoms (most of the time that means about a week for adults, but for children it can mean up to two weeks).

Ways To Prevent The Flu:

  • To have the flu shot if your pediatrician feels you should have it.

  • Wash your Hands thorough and frequently

  • Never pick up used tissues.

  • Never share cups and eating utensils.

  • Stay home from work or school when you’re sick with the flu.

  • Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

How Do You Treat The Flu?

  • Stay home from school

  • Drink lots of fluids.

  • Get plenty of sleep and take it easy.

  • Call your doctor for a fever or achiness so that he/she can let you know what to take to make your child feel better.

  • Return to school when your child is better.

Please contact me at Holly.Hagy@magschools.us or 854-8030 if you have any questions or concerns.  Have a safe and healthy school year!