Stetho-Scoop
The "Pulse" of the WSSD Community
Wallingford Swarthmore School District
By: Debbie Sweeney, RN, BSN, CSN
Email: dsweeney@wssd.org
Website: wssd.org
Location: 200 South Providence Road, Wallingford, PA, USA
Phone: 610-892-3470
Meet the Wallingford Swarthmore School District Nursing Department Staff
Strath Haven Middle School: Roxann Gariffo, RN, BSN, CSN
Wallingford Elementary School: Erin Costa, RN, MSN, CSN
Swarthmore Rutledge Elementary School: Pat Comly, RN
Nether Providence Elementary School & Nursing Department Chair:
Debbie Sweeney, RN, BSN, CSN
Non-Public Schools & District Itinerant Nurse: Lisa Lashley, RN
Float Nurses: Katherine Slotnick, RN & Natalie Sniadowski, RN
Administrative Assistant: Rachel Peters
There is no longer a Lead COVID Nurse. Kindly direct all health concerns to your child's school nurse.
When to Keep Your Child Home From School
The following symptoms may indicate a contagious illness. Your child should be kept at home if any of the following occur:
- Fever of 100° the night prior to or the morning of school; student must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school without fever reducing medication.
- Headache unrelieved by Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea within the past 24 hours; student must be vomit/diarrhea-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
- Sore throat lasting 2-3 days; a visit to the doctor may be needed to rule out strep throat.
- Drainage from the eyes; red, itchy, and/or crusty eyes
- Excessive coughing unrelieved by cough drops or cough medicine.
- Rash (unless determined to be non-communicable by a physician)
- Abdominal pain
- Dizziness or chills
- Stiff neck or headache not caused by an accident or fall
Having your sick child rest at home with any of the above conditions will likely help with his/her recovery. It will also help to prevent the spread of germs to other students and staff members.
Virtual Nurses Office
The nursing department would like to introduce you to the virtual nurses office. All areas are hyperlinked to documents or information for quick and easy reference. You will find this link below your school nurse's signature.
Stress and Our Children
We all experience stress but children and teens may not ask for help managing stress or recognize that they are experiencing stress.
Symptoms of stress can vary with age and coping skills. It is important to look for sudden or drastic changes in your child.
Symptoms of Stress:
· Emotional outbursts or increased irritability.
· Trouble sleeping.
· Withdrawing from friends and/or family.
· Frequent headaches or stomachaches.
· Struggles in school.
Managing Stress Prevention Strategies:
· Establishing routines and maintaining them.
· Find time to talk with your child.
· Maintain physical activity.
· Playing as a family.
· Maintaining a healthy diet and sleep habits.
· Managing one’s own mental health
References
LaCore, T. (2022, June 2). Stressed out kids? Signs and strategies. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/stressed-out-kids
Necessary Sleep for Children and Teens
Sleep is essential as it improves mood, brain performance and overall health.
So how much sleep do our children need?
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has made the following recommendations for
children and adolescents: (Paruthi et al., 2016)
Age Group: 6–12 years
Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Day: 9 to 12 hours per 24 hours
Age Group: 13–18 years
Recommended Hours of Sleep Per Day: 8 to 10 hours per 24 hours
Helping your child get the sleep they need:
· Stick to a consistent sleep schedule during the week and on weekends.
· Limit light exposure.
· Limit technology us in the evenings
· Parents can limit when their children may use electronic devices (sometimes referred to as a “media curfew”).
· Parents can limit where their children may use electronic devices (for example, not in their child’s bedroom).
· For additional tips see: CDC’s Tips for Better Sleep.
References
CDC. (2020, September 10). Sleep in middle and high school students. Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/features/students-sleep.htm#:~:text=The%20American%20Academy%20of%20Sleep
Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Consensus Statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine on the Recommended Amount of Sleep for Healthy Children: Methodology and Discussion. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 12(11), 1549–1561. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.6288
Health Topic Interest Survey
We want to hear from you!
Do you have a topic of interest you would like addressed in the newsletter? Let me know by responding to the survey.
I will be including an interest survey with each addition for community input.
COVID Links per Delaware County Department of Health
We follow the guidance of the Delaware County Health Department. See the links below.
DCHD defers to the CDC on isolation and quarantine.
If your child has an exposure and is symptomatic, please keep them home and contact their school nurse.
https://delcopa.gov/covid/testing.html - Testing information
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fyour-health%2Fquarantine-isolation.html - Isolation and quarantine Info
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/if-you-were-exposed.html- ExposureVaccination Requirements for Attending School
The Pennsylvania Department of Health requires the following immunizations for all children entering school in Pennsylvania as of September 2017-2018. Parents are required to provide written proof, signed by a physician, indicating that their child has received the following required immunizations. These immunizations must be completed and submitted to the school nurse before a child may attend school. Children who do not meet minimum requirements are not permitted to attend school until the immunizations have been completed.
Children in ALL grades (K-12) are required to have the following immunizations for attendance:
- 4 doses of DPT, DtaP, Td, or DT (Diphtheria, Tetanus), properly spaced with the fourth dose given on or after the age of 4 years
- 4 doses of Polio vaccine: ( 4th dose on or after the 4th birthday AND at least 6 months after the previous dose)
- 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine, properly spaced
- 2 doses of Measles, Mumps, rubella vaccine (usually given as MMR), one on or after the 12th month of age, second dose given after the age of 4 years
- 2 doses of Varicella vaccine (chicken pox), one on or after the 12th month of age, second dose give after the age of 4 yeaers. Or a signed physician statement showing your child had the disease. Varicella immunization is one dose for children aged 1-12, or 2 doses for children aged 13 and above (spaced at least 1 month apart)
7th grade Students requirements: for attendance on the 1st day of 7th grade must have:
- 1 dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis), if 5 years has elaped since their last tetanus immunization
- 1 dose meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
12th grade ADDITIONAL requirement: as of 2017-2018. for attendance on the 1st day of 12th grade must have:
- 1dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV), if one dose was given at 16 years of age or older that shall count as the twelfth grade dose.
Please check with your health care provider to obtain documentation of your child's immunization. Your child's immunization documentation must be received by the School Nurse by the prior to the start of the school year.
Physical and Dental Examinations
If you have not submitted your child's required physical in kindergarten or first, sixth or eleventh grades, please do so as soon as possible.
Examinations done by a family physician within one year before the opening of the school term are acceptable by state regulations. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to take their children to their family physician for these examinations to provide continuity of care.
If you have not submitted your child's dental exam required in kindergarten or first, third and seventh grades, please do so as soon as possible.
Please see the website for necessary forms:
- Please keep the school nurse informed of any corrections, treatments, or immunization boosters that your child has received. In order to keep your child's health records current, please send physician documentation of any immunization boosters your child may receive. Access to current health information is essential in an emergency situation.