Nurse Notes
October 2018
Hello October!
Can you hear it? It's coming! No, it isn't the band at Friday night football games. It's the Flu and another season is upon us.
Flu is the short term for influenza and 2018 marks the 100th year since the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. Scroll down to the bottom of this newsletter to watch a short clip.
There have been a lot of advances in 100 years, but the infection can still spread rapidly as the virus is passed from person to person. When someone with the flu coughs or sneezes, the influenza virus gets into the air, and people nearby, including children, can inhale it. The virus also can be spread when your child touches a hard surface, such as a door handle, and then places his hand or fingers in his nose/mouth or rubs his eye.
Flu symptoms may include fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and sometimes vomiting. The best way to protect your family from new influenza strains is to get vaccinated each year but there are also other ways to help prevent the flu from getting a foothold in your household.
Follow good health guidelines: eat right, exercise, and get plenty of rest to help boost your immunity to fight the effects of colds and flu. Wash hands frequently, do the elbow cough, and disinfect hot spots at school, work, and home.
The top virus-contaminated areas in the home are:
1. Telephones (have you cleaned your cell phone lately)
2. Appliances such as the refrigerator and microwave
3. Faucets
4. Light switch and door handles
5. TV remotes
6. ...and ladies, the bottom of your purses.
I've Got The Flu! Now What?
If you do get the flu, treat the symptoms with hot soup, fluids, plenty of rest and Tylenol or Motrin for fever and headaches.
Children and teenagers (anyone aged 18 years and younger) who have the flu or are suspected to have the flu, should not be given Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) or any salicylate containing products (e.g. Pepto Bismol); this can cause a rare, very serious complication called Reye’s syndrome. More information about Reye’s syndrome can be found here.
Most people with the flu have a mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. If you get sick with flu symptoms, in most cases, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people and stay home from school, work, travel, shopping and social events.
Students can come back to school when they have been without a fever for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Scoliosis Screening, 5th Grade Girls, October 17
The Texas Department of State Health Services has revised the spinal screening schedule for school age children beginning school year 2018-2019.
To meet this requirement, 5th grade girls will be screened at Liberty Elementary School October 17.
Information was sent home with your student October 2.
You may choose to have this exam done by your medical provider. Please send the documentation to me so I can note it in your child's record.
If you do not want your child screened due to religious reasons, please contact me by October 15 to obtain an exemption form.
Boys will be screened once at 13 or 14 years of age, or the fall semester of the 8th grade.
If you have any questions or did not receive the information that was sent home, please let me know.
Halloween Safety
Everyone loves a good scare on Halloween, but not when it comes to child safety. It's a hard fact that on average, children are more than twice as likely to be hurt on Halloween than on any other day of the year.
Here are a few Top Tips to make sure Halloween is safe for everyone:
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors. Since masks can sometimes obstruct a child’s vision, try non-toxic face paint and makeup whenever possible.
Have kids use glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, remind them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
When selecting a costume make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Buying Decorative Contact Lenses is Scary!
You may want to have the perfect look for Halloween, but choosing to change the look of your eyes with contact lenses could cause a lot of damage to your eyesight.
Did you know that these decorative contact lenses are actually medical devices? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees their safety and effectiveness, just like contact lenses that correct your vision.
Never buy contact lenses from a street vendor, a beauty supply store, flea market, novelty store or Halloween store. Always have a perscription.
Links, Links and More Links
As always, feel free to contact me any time you have questions or concerns about your child.
I am here to partner with you to make sure your child receives what they need to succeed in school.
Click the link below to access my school page and links to information and forms you might find helpful.
Regina Miller, RN BSN NCSN
Liberty Elementary School
972-350-5915