|
WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL
You may wonder when to keep your child home because of illness. The following guidelines may help you in making that decision. Your child's doctor may also assist you. Please inform the school staff is your child’s illness is contagious (pink eye, strep throat, chicken pox, fever).
COLDS, SORE THROATS, COUGH-A child experiencing a cold with a lot of congestion and a hacking cough belongs at home in bed, even if no fever exists.
DIARRHEA-Diarrhea is a bowel movement that is watery or more loose than normal for the child. If a child has more than one loose stool or liquid stool in a day, he/she should be kept at home.
FEVER-A fever is a warning that all is not right in the body. The child may have a disease that could spread to other children. Also he or she probably does not feel well enough to be at school or daycare. No child with a temperature greater that 100°F should be sent to school or daycare. When a thermometer is not available, check the child's forehead with the back of your hand. If it is hot, keep the child home until the fever can be checked with a thermometer. Do not allow the child to return to school/daycare until free of fever for 24 hours.
HEAD LICE-Head lice are flat insects that live in human hair. Lice hatch from small eggs called nits. Nits attach firmly to the hair's shaft, most often behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. The adult insects bite the scalp causing the itching. Anyone can get head lice. Lice are easily spread by close contact with an infested person or by sharing hats and combs. A child with head lice is to stay home until treated and free of nits. Call your local health department or school nurse for information about the treatment of head lice.
RASHES-A rash might be the first sign of a childhood illness, such as chickenpox. A rash may cover the entire body or appear in only one area. Do not send a child with a rash to school or daycare until the doctor has said it is safe to do so.
VOMITING-Keep your child home until the child can keep his/her food down.
BORROWED CLOTHES-If your child has needed to borrow clothes from school, please wash and return them back to school as soon as possible, so that we have them available for other children.
ANTIBIOTICS:BACTERIA VS. VIRAL-Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections. Viral infections like colds, flu, most sore throats, and coughs should not be treated with antibiotics.
The following are tips for easing the symptoms of colds or the flu:
- Rest
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Eat healthy foods
- Use a vaporizer
- If the symptoms do not improve, consult your child's physician for further instruction.
ASTHMA AT SCHOOL-Asthma is a condition that frequently becomes worse during the fall and winter months. Individuals with asthma may have also been diagnosed with allergies. Allergies to certain substances, such as pollen, trees, and smoke, may become more bothersome during autumn, when leaves, seeds and other plant materials are collected and may be burned. Cold weather may “trigger” or initiate an asthma episode.
Students who have asthma and use an inhaled medication for the treatment of their asthma may not be aware when the inhaler is empty or nearly empty and should be replaced. Additionally, inhalers have been lost by their owners.
For these reasons, it is very important to have an extra inhaler kept in the school office for use in the event of an emergency, rather than sending the individual to an emergency room via rescue squad unnecessarily. Please obtain an extra inhaler for your child and provide it to the school office.
SPRAINS AND STRAINS-The following treatment is for strains and sprains.
- Rest the injury
- Ice the injury to prevent/decrease swelling.
- Compression, or wrapping the injured area with an elastic bandage (Ace Bandage)
- Elevate the injury above the level of the heart as often as possible for the first three days.
- X-rays may be required to identify broken bones. Consult a physician if pain and swelling increase or do not improve over several days.
SUN SAFETY-With warmer weather quickly approaching, a few safety precautions to review for protecting the skin while enjoying the summer months.
- The sun is strongest during the middle part of the day. Plan indoor activities during this time. Look for shaded areas to play, if unable to be indoors.
- Dress children in light weight clothing. Keeping the skin covered reduces exposure. Wear a hat to protect the sensitive areas of the head, neck, ears and face.
- Encourage children to wear sunglasses. Sunglasses need lenses that provide protection from UVA/UVB rays.
- Use sunscreen with appropriate SPF protection, at all times. Areas often missed include the ears, nose and tops of feet. Reapply per manufacturer directions. Sunscreen is necessary on overcast days due to UVA/UVB rays ability to penetrate through clouds.
- Wear lip balm with appropriate SPF protection.
- A serious sunburn can increase the risk of skin cancer. Follow the Sun Safety Tips for a fun and safe summer.
PREVENT ILLNESS-
- Use soap and water. Scrub hands making sure to reach every area for 15 seconds.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Dry thoroughly.
- Turn off faucets with a paper towel. Prevent reinfecting hands by avoiding contact with bathroom surfaces after you wash.
- Wash before you eat, after you use the bathroom, after coughing or sneezing and anytime your hands are visibly dirty.
- Proper handwashing is the best defense for preventing the spread of illness.
Mrs. Denise Jacobs, School Nurse, can be reached at 262-857-2334 x1301 or jacobs.den@bristol.k12.wi.us .
| 