Nurse Notes
December ( Already?) 2018
When To Keep Your Child Home From School- What LISD Says
December may be a short month as far as school days go, but colds and flu and coughs never take a day off. Here is the LISD policy regarding when you need to keep your child home from school.
• Signs or symptoms of a communicable disease that cannot be contained at school
• Localized rash causing acute discomfort or systemic rash of undetermined origin
• An oral temperature of 100.0 degrees or greater. All students must be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication, before returning to school.
• Signs or symptoms of acute illness, serious accident/injury
• Vomiting (not related to a single event such as gagging, positioning, mucus, running after eating, or eating spicy food); all students must be free from vomiting for 24 hours without the aid of medication before returning to school
• Diarrhea of two or more loose watery stools; all students must be free from diarrhea for 24 hours without the aid of any medication before returning to school
• Asthma symptoms that do not respond to prescribed medication or no prescribed medication available for treatment
• Diabetes with a blood sugar greater than 400 and positive ketones or inadequate supplies to treat diabetes at school
• Uncontrolled coughing
• Purulent drainage that cannot be safely managed with bandages
• Pink eye or purulent conjunctivitis (defined as pink or red conjunctiva with white or yellow eye discharge); the student must receive treatment for 24 hours before returning to school or provide a note from a health care provider stating the condition is not contagious and the student may return to school
• Unexplained rashes
• Live head lice - student may return after treatment at home and being rechecked by the school nurse or designee.
• Scabies – student may return once treatment has begun
• Ringworm of the scalp or Ringworm that cannot be covered by clothing or bandage; may return once treatment has begun
• Any student who is too ill or uncomfortable to participate in learning activities
Urgent Need
This time of year is a busy one for most of us, but it is one of the most critical times for blood centers. The American Red Cross is in severe need of blood and platelets.
Please consider donating blood this holiday season at the following locations:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=75028
Help bridge that gap by clicking the button above.
It only takes a minute to register.
Bits and Pieces
Health Screenings:
Vision, hearing and scoliosis screenings have concluded at Liberty Elementary School. A note was sent home for students that had difficulty with any screening or did not pass. Please let me know if your child was seen by your doctor and the results of the exam, or if you choose not to follow up at this time.
Because vision can affect learning, it is important that students who need glasses wear them while in school. If you need assistance in finding an eye doctor or financial assistance for glasses please let me know. There are many resources I can tap to assist you confidentially.
Clothing:
If your child has outgrown pants, shirts or other comfortable clothing, please consider sending gently used, clean items to the school clinic. Extra clothes come in handy when students get sick, fall in a puddle at recess or spill water or milk on themselves at lunch.
Medication Forms:
If you catch up on doctor visits during the break, you may need one of the following forms:
Parent Request for Administration of Medication -Elementary
Allergy Action Plan
Flu Information:
Learn the latest on flu symptoms and treatment, and track the flu in Texas.
Tips To Stay Chill During The Holidaze
Mom's in stress meltdown, the kids are fighting over the last cupcake, and Uncle Bob is coughing over the holiday ham. Hello, holiday memories!
'Tis the season to beat sickness (not to mention tiredness and stress). Fortunately, you can stay well and have a good time even if everyone else is falling apart.
Follow these 5 tips to boost your body's defenses:
- Fend off germs. Family gatherings, airports and travel stops, shopping malls, even the library during finals week — they're all places germs like to mingle. So protect yourself: Get a flu vaccine and wash your hands a lot. The holidays are all about sharing, but some things you'll want to keep to yourself: forks, spoons, and drinking utensils. People can be contagious before they know they're sick, so even just a sip from someone's drink puts his or her germs in your body.
- Eat healthy and be merry. Holiday foods can be high in calories and low on the nutrition you need to battle germs and boost energy. Make it a priority to eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day (choose the whole fruit instead of juice so you feel full longer and avoid added sugar). Don't give your exercise routine a holiday. Exercise gives you energy in addition to burning calories.
- Chill. "Can I afford it?" "Will it be perfect?" Even things we look forward to, like parties or gifts, can come with worries attached. If you feel stressed out, stop what you're doing for just a moment. Take five deep breaths — all-the-way-down-to-your-belly deep. Concentrate on each breath as you inhale and exhale. Walk over to a window and look out at the sky. Then go back to what you were doing, realizing that holiday drama happens to us all and leaves us with great stories to tell.
- Beat the blues. Holiday depression doesn't just happen in songs. For some people, it's seasonal, brought on by shorter days, longer nights, and colder weather. Other people are going through difficult life events like a breakup or a move. If you feel down, go outside, even if it's cold. Sunlight and exercise are great mood lifters.
- Don't hesitate to talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling. You are never alone.
- Get some ZZZs. Getting 8½ to 9 hours of sleep a night during the holidays can help strengthen your immune system, give you more energy, and make you less vulnerable to stress.
One of the top things to do for your health is to get out and have fun. Forget about the tough stuff for a while (except for your safety, of course — be sure someone knows where you are).
Laugh and enjoy yourself — the holidays only come once a year.
Here's wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday.
How To Contact Me
I am always available to speak with you about your child, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
Email: MillerRG@lisd.net
Website: https://www.lisd.net/domain/4380
Location: 4600 Quail Run, Flower Mound, TX, USA
Phone: 972 350 5915