Nurse Updates
February 2024
Dear Families,
We hope everyone has been staying healthy this winter! As we are still in the peak of flu season, we are continuing to remind students to wash their hands well and cover their coughs/sneezes to help reduce the spread of any illnesses.
Below you will find information on the following:
- Health Topics
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Heart Disease (February is American Heart month)
- Medications at School
- Illness Protocol
- COVID Guidance
Thank you!
Nicole Wollert
District Nurse
Health Topics
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
We have seen a few cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this school year.
RSV is spread by respiratory droplets (coughs, sneezes, etc) or contact (shaking hands, touching contaminated surfaces and then touching mouth/nose/eyes, etc).
Typical RSV symptoms are runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, decrease in appetite, and wheezing.
There is no specific treatment/medication for RSV.
Some things that can help improve symptoms include taking a pain or fever medication (never give aspirin to a child), using a room humidifer or taking a hot shower to help ease cough and sore throat, drinking plenty of liquids, and resting.
If a student is diagnosed with RSV, they should stay home from school until they are fever-free for 24 hours.
Most people who get RSV will recover in a week or two. However, infants, young children, and older adults are more likely to get serious complications (like bronchiolitis, pneumonia, etc) if they get sick with RSV.
For more information on RSV, please visit the WI DHS website - https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/disease/rsv.htm
February is American Heart Month
Ever wonder about the difference between Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Disease, and Coronary Heart Disease? Here is a brief overview of the differences.
- Cardiovascular Disease is the term for all types of disease that affect the heart or blood vessels.
- Heart Disease is a type of cardiovascular disease and it encompasses a variety of conditions that affect the heart's structure/function.
- Coronary Heart Disease is a type of heart disease that occurs when plaque builds up in the arteries. This plaque reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood getting to the heart, which can cause chest pain. Plaque can also lead to blood clots, which block blood flow; this is the most common cause of a heart attack.
- For more information: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/education/american-heart-month and https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/index.htm
- National Wear Red Day is February 2nd. Wear red and encourage others to do the same to help raise awareness that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.
Take Action for Your Heart - Page 1
Take Action for Your Heart - Page 2
National Wear Red Day - February 2nd
Medications at School
If your child needs medication at school, please fill out a medication consent form (see below) and drop off the medication (in its original packaging) at your child's school office.
If it is an over-the-counter medication, such as Tylenol, etc, then only a parent/guardian signature is needed on the medication form.
If it is a prescription medication, then a medical provider's signature is also required.
A medical provider's signature would also be required if the dosage written on the form by the parent/guardian differs from the recommended therapeutic dose on the medication label.
We are not able to administer medications to students without a medication form completed. Students are not allowed to keep their own supply of medication in their lockers.
Exceptions to this are albuterol inhalers for students with asthma, glucagon for students with diabetes, and epinephrine for students with severe allergic reactions; a medication form still needs to be completed for these medications even if the student is carrying the medication themselves.
All other needed medication must be administered through the school office.
Illness Protocol
If your child has a fever over 100 degrees, is vomiting, or has diarrhea, your child should stay home from school. Your child may return to school when they have been free of fever/vomiting/diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
Your child should also stay home from school if he/she has an unidentified rash or live head lice.
If your child has a rash, your child may return to school when their doctor recommends. Please provide a note to your child's school office from their medical provider indicating when they may return.
If your child has live head lice, he/she may return to school after they are treated as long as there are no longer any live lice.
Your child should stay home if he/she has an eye infection and is unable to avoid touching their eyes.
If your child has a communicable disease, please refer to this chart for guidance on when they may return to school.
COVID Guidance
We are continuing to recommend families follow the CDC's guidance, which can be found here.
We are continuing to follow our illness protocol that we followed prior to COVID - if a student has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, then they should stay home until they are free of fever/vomiting/diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
If a student has multiple COVID-like symptoms (cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, new loss of taste or smell, headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fever or chills), then they should contact their medical provider's office for guidance.
If a student tests positive for COVID or was in close contact with an individual who tested positive, the student should follow their doctor's guidance. Documentation from their doctor must be provided to the school office stating the student should be excused from school and their return date in order for the student's absence to be excused. Just as prior to COVID, student absences that occur without a doctor's note will be unexcused until proper documentation is provided.