News From the Nurse's Office

Back to school times means all new germs and children beginning to get sick. Here are some good reminders as to when to keep your child(ren) home, as well as some information about the flu.

It is sometimes difficult to decide when a child should remain home from school.

Here are a few guidelines:

1. Fever of 100 degrees or higher

2. The first 24 hours after starting antibiotics for an infection, especially Conjunctivitis/Pink Eye, Impetigo or Strep Throat

3. Vomiting and/or Diarrhea during the night or in the morning

4. A very bad cold with heavy nasal congestion or a persistent cough that would make school difficult for them

5. Rash that could be contagious; rashes need to be checked by your child’s doctor

6. Excessive fatigue after an illness

7. When your child’s doctor recommends rest at home following an illness, injury, or surgery

8. If your child has head lice, please notify the nurse at school. After treatment, they may be checked by the school nurse upon returning to school

9. If you are not sure about keeping your child home, call the school nurse or your child’s doctor

When a child can return to school

1. Child should be fever free for 24 hours without any fever reducing medications (Tylenol, acetaminophen, Motrin, ibuprofen, Advil, etc.)

2. 24 hours after beginning antibiotics for an infection and achieving a normal temperature for 24 hours

3. No vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours

4. When cold symptoms lessen and nasal congestion is reduced or cough is no longer persistent

5. After a doctor has determined a rash is not contagious and the child can be in school

6. Fatigue has resolved and child is able to participate in normal activities and is able to eat and drink normally

7. When your child has been cleared by their doctor to return to school following an illness, injury, or surgery

8. When your child has been treated for head lice and no longer has any live lice. The school nurse may check your child when they return to school.

"The Flu- A Guide for Parents"- English: Flu guide for parents Flyer (mass.gov)

"The Flu- A Guide for Parents"- Spanish: Información sobr e la influenza - La influenza: Guía para padres (mass.gov)

"Fight Flu at Home and School"- Russian: 2184.pdf (ny.gov)

"Influenza"- English/Simplified Chinese: Influenza - Simplified Chinese (storage.googleapis.com)

USE OF COUGH DROPS AT SCHOOL
Policies have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of children who need medicine during the school day. Our school district requires that the following forms must be on file in your child’s health record before we begin to give any medicine at school:

1. A signed medication order by your child’s physician.

2. A signed consent by parent or guardian to give the medicine.

The policies include over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol, cough drops, and ointments. When your child needs medicine during the school day, please obtain the forms from the school nurse or the district website (www.stgrsd.org) so we may begin to give the medicine as soon as possible. Additionally, children are not permitted to transport any medicine, prescription or over the counter, to or from school. Medicine should be delivered to the school in a pharmacy or manufacturer-labeled container by a parent/guardian or other authorized adult.

The use of cough drops at school is discouraged. This is due to the potential for choking that cough drops present. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on the prevention of choking in children states that food, coins, and toys are the primary causes of choking-related injury and death. Certain characteristics, including shape, size, and consistency, of certain toys and foods increase their potential to cause choking among children. Cough drops are a round, slippery, hard candy that could easily block the airway of a young child. (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/125/3/601.full)

Coughing is a healthy reflex that helps to clear the airway. A severe or lingering cough requires medical treatment, but many coughs are caused by viruses that just need to run their course. Other effective ways to address a cough are a water bottle at a student’s desk or warm saltwater gargles which students can do in the school nurse’s office. (http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/sheets/cough_sheet.html)

Students who medically require cough drops will need the necessary medication forms on file in the school nurse’s office, the cough drops will need to be brought to school in their original container by an adult, and the student will need to remain in the school nurse’s office until it is completely dissolved. If your child’s cough is persistent, please contact his/her physician for medical advice and treatment.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, or health updates.

Thank you,

Deb Carellas, BSN, RN, NCSN
Woodland School
Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
(P) 413-569-6598 x3111
(F) 413-569-4107
dcarellas@stgrsd.org