SPRING NEWS LETTER
March 2020
Is it seasonal allergies or a cold?
With the mild winter we had we are already seeing Seasonal Allergies.
ALLERGY SEASON is upon us and with it comes the coughing sneezing and congestion that can leave a person feeling blah….!
If you have allergies, your body is sensitive to things that most people do not react to. You may react to dust, pollen, food, pet dander or something else. When you are exposed to an allergen, your body overreacts with symptoms such as itchy watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, rash and more.
Here is a link for you and your child to visit that help explain how and why allergens affect us. Let’s be prepared this season through education and as always, please visit your doctor as needed.
SPORTS PHYSICALS
Do you play basketball, football, baseball, soccer or other school sports? If so, chances are you will need an annual sports physical in order to compete. The purpose of a sports physical also known as pre-participation physical evaluation (PPE) is to maximize the health of athletes and their safe participation in sports.
Pick up a copy of the PPE packet from the school nurse or print your own from the school website. Bellmawr Public Schools-Students and Parents- Nursing Resource-Medical Forms-Annual Pre-participation Physical Examination Forms.
Below are a couple links for you to familiarize yourself with the process.
Information will be coming in the next couple of months about sports physicals at Bell Oaks over the summer.
Importance of Immunizations
Babies are born with protection against some diseases because their mothers pass antibodies (proteins made by the body to fight disease) to them before birth. Breastfed babies continue to get more antibodies in breast milk. But in both cases, the protection is temporary.
Immunization (vaccination) is a way to create immunity to (protection from) some diseases. This is done by using small amounts of a killed or weakened germ that causes the disease.
Germs can be viruses (such as the measles virus) or bacteria (such as pneumococcus). Vaccines stimulate the immune system to react as if there were a real infection. It fends off the "infection" and remembers the germ. Then, it can fight the germ if it enters the body later.
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spanish/materials.html
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html
Tween and Teen Skin Care
Being a teenager usually means feeling self-conscious some (or most) of the time... it just comes with the territory. Nobody wants to get acne, but when you're already struggling to figure things out in middle school and high school, dealing with breakouts can be seriously frustrating. Even though nearly 85% of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience some type of acne, having blackheads and whiteheads, or red, inflamed pimples on your face or body during these vulnerable teenage years can feel especially embarrassing and frustrating. Below is a link to help with some of the questions you may have.
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/teenage-acne
Healthy Habits to Remember & Practice
· Drink 6 to 8 cups of water per day
· Eat a piece of fruit with breakfast each day
· Go to bed early to get plenty of rest
· Spend more time being physically active
· Wash your hands
- before eating
- after using the bathroom or
- after coughing
- after blowing your nose.
· Limit screen time and read a book instead or listen to music
· Wear a helmet when riding a bike
· Wear a seatbelt every time in the car
· Talk with a parent or teacher when you have a problem or feel stressed.
· Be kind to others
The Bellmawr School Nurses
Marie Lewis, Bell Oaks
Hope Forte, Bellmawr Park & ACCEEC
Judy Baji, E M Burke
Email: lewism@bellmawrschools.org
Website: http://www.bellmawrschools.org/students___parents/nursing_resources
Location: 256 Anderson Avenue, Bellmawr, NJ, USA
Phone: (856) 931-6621
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bellmawrschools/?ref=settings
Twitter: @bellmawrschools