AM EDT
Subject: Children's Health Tip of the Day - September 15, 2009

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School nurses don’t just put band-aids on scraped knees and dole out acetaminophen for headaches.



School nurses have broad responsibilities

The American Federation of Teachers notes that school nurses are responsible for higher levels of care, including:


- Administering medications and monitoring response
- Monitoring respiratory status, seizure patterns and blood glucose levels
- Checking for parasites, skin infections and infectious diseases
- Keeping an eye out for sexual and physical abuse
- Conducting health screenings
- Overseeing a variety of complex health conditions
- Managing medical emergencies


In fact, more than 97 percent of school nurses care for students with diabetes; about 95 percent care for students with seizures, and upwards of 93 percent care for students with chronic and severe asthma. In short, school nurses can mean the difference between life and death.



Get to know your child's school nurse

Health experts recommend getting to know your child’s own “angel of mercy,” especially if he has a chronic condition, such as asthma or diabetes. Even if your child doesn’t have a medical condition, it’s a good idea to drop by and introduce yourself.



How to work with the school nurse to protect your child's health

To make the best of your relationship with the school nurse:


- Join forces with the nurse in promoting good health in the school by keeping your child home when he is sick, especially if he is running a fever. In addition, notify the nurse if your child develops an infectious disease or condition such as pinkeye or strep throat.

- Keep your child up to date on her immunization schedule. Make sure your child has all the appropriate shots and boosters for her age, and give a copy of those records to the school nurse each year.

- Provide current emergency contact information. The school nurse should have a way of contacting you in the event of an emergency. It is also important to provide a back-up contact should you be unavailable during the day. In addition, the office should have your child’s doctor’s and dentist’s office number.

- Keep her informed. Alert the school nurse to any health and medical issues your child has, such as allergies, vision or hearing problems, etc., and any accommodations that need to be made for him. If your child has an ongoing condition, it is a good idea to meet periodically to update medical information.


Reviewed by: Patrick S. Pasquariello Jr., MD

INFORMATION EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW........................

STROKE:Remember the 1st Three Letters....S.T.R.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:
S *Ask the individual to SMILE.
T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(i.e. It is sunny out today)
R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks , call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue.. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other,that is also an indication of a stroke.

With Cold and Flu season upon us I have had more and more medications come in. Please remember that all medications, whether over-the-counter or prescription, cannot be given at school without a school form signed. I am unable to administer with a parent note.A child is not allowed to bring in the medication. Please refer to student handbook for full medication policy and guidelines.

The FDA has expanded its recall of peanut butter and peanut butter containing foods. Again, this all seems to be coming out of the plant in Blakely, GA and does not involve the distributor we use.
The list of products now involved is long and includes the following brands:

Famous Amos
Keebler
Wal-Mart
Austin
Little Debbie
ShurFine
Wegman's
Clif Bar
Z Bar
Zone Perfect
Nutripals
For a complete list of the recalled products and labels http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm

We are not using any peanut butter products until the Public Health Department has cleared us to do so.

Caution: Teen Drivers Ahead

As holiday parties are in full swing, it's important to reinforce the rules of the road with your teen. Too often teens drive while under the influence, but that influence extends beyond alcohol. Thirteen percent of high school seniors reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported drinking and driving (14%).[1]

Talk to your teen about other driver distractions that can impair their driving abilities, like texting and talking on the phone while behind the wheel. In a recent survey, nearly 61% of 16- and 17-year-olds said they send text messages while driving, and 51% reported talking on the phone while driving. [2] Let your teen know that these risky driving behaviors are more likely to cause crashes.

Get the facts on drugged, drunk, and distracted driving:
http://www.theantidrug.com/steerclear/pdfs/DrivingFactSheet.pdf

Driving is a privilege, not a right!

Does your teen understand that driving is a privilege - and it can be revoked at any time? Remind them that they have to earn the right to use their car keys and they will be taken away if they are caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, texting, or talking on the phone while driving.

Set limits and talk to your teen about rules and expectations, and consequences for breaking the rules: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/eleven.asp

[1] Unpublished estimates derived from U.S. Census Bureau and Monitoring the Future data from O'Malley, Patrick and Johnston, Lloyd, "Unsafe Driving by American High School Seniors, 2001-2006" Journal of Studies on Alcohol and
Drugs, November 2007.

[2] Seventeen Survey: Are you a dangerous driver? Seventeen, August 2007.

Encourage your teen to make smart driving decisions.

1. Set a positive example. Make a commitment to avoid talking or texting while
driving. Remember, you are the most important influence on your teen.

2. Conduct a car check. If you have reason to believe your teen is using drugs
or is engaging in risky behavior, check the car for suspicious packages and/or
drug paraphernalia.

3. Go on a test drive. Ask your teen to take you for a spin and look for signs
of risky driving behaviors, like talking on the phone or playing with the radio.
Take time to reinforce safe driving practices.

More tips for parents of teen drivers:
http://www.theantidrug.com/steerclear/tips.asp

1. The first way to health, said the CDC to me
Wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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2. The second way to health, said the CDC to me
Bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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3. The third way to health, said the CDC to me
Manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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4. The fourth way to health, said the CDC to me
Don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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5. The fifth way to health, said the CDC to me
BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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6. The sixth way to health, said the CDC to me
Fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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7. The seventh way to health, said the CDC to me
Get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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8. The eighth way to health, said the CDC to me
Get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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9. The ninth way to health, said the CDC to me
Monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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10. The tenth way to health, said the CDC to me
Practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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11. The eleventh way to health, said the CDC to me
Prepare dinner safely, practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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12. The twelfth way to health, said the CDC to me
Eat well and get moving, prepare dinner safely, practice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.


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Happy Holidays!

Daily News: Government Issues Exercise Recommendations
Friday November 7, 2008

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is recommending adults get two-and-a-half hours of exercise each week, while children should run and play for at least an hour each day. The recommendations are based on studies that show numerous health benefits from regular, moderate exercise.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.6% of U.S. adults are medically obese. Lack of exercise and poor diet are the main reasons.

Dear Parents:
Greetings from the School Nurse. Welcome to all new and returning families. As your school nurse, I enjoy the very special privilege of caring for your child. Please take a few minutes from your busy day to note some very important information that will help me provide the best care and service to your family.

Medications: I am happy to assist students who need medications at school, and request that all medications be brought to school by a parent or guardian or designated adult--not a child for reasons of safety. Medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, will require a medication form. Please note that Alabama Law does not permit local schools to dispense nonprescription drugs such as Tylenol, Advil, or cough syrups, etc. (These will need to be supplied from home). Please see the student handbook for a copy of the St. Clair County Medication policy.

First Aid for Illness and Injury: We make every effort to safeguard your child's health at school. In the event of a serious accident or emergency, you will be contacted immediately. When a parent or guardian cannot be reached, the student will be transported by ambulance to an appropriate medical facility and accompanied by a nurse, administrator or designated faculty member. make sure we have the medical history form on file for your child. It has consent to treatment, or choice of doctor, choice of hospital on the back. To ensure optimum care, it is important to update us continually with new phone numbers, changes in your child's health, new medications, or anything else that impacts his or her well being at school.

Control of communicable diseases and illness: Your child health is important to me! Hygiene and health are taught and emphasized throughout the year. I will periodically send home information about what's "going around", and will share tips to keep your family well. Please call or see me whenever you are not certain about sending your child to school. See previous blog about when a child is too sick to send to school.

You are encouraged to share any concerns or problems relevant to your child's health. If you have any questions or would like to meet with me, please do not hesitate to call me at 205-640-2044. Clinic hours are from 7:30-3:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Best wishes for a fantastic school year

Sharon Owen, RN 205-640-2044 email-Sharon.Owen@sccboe.org

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