|
|
Nurse Teresa |
| Home | NewsFlash | NewsFlash # 2 | Medication Policies | Medical Forms | About The Nurse | Safety Wed Links | Flu Information for Parents | General Health Links | FAQ | Healthy Eating Links | Email |
|
FAQ
What is MRSA and how can I prevent it? MRSA is the short name for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a common bacteria that lives on the skin and in the nose of as many as one in ten people. In some otherwise healthy people, MRSA causes a skin infection that usually begins with a small bump resembling a pimple or insect bite, that may become red, swollen and painful or have pus or other drainage. People with those symptoms should see a doctor and follow the doctor�s advice. Most MRSA infections can be treated with antibiotics. More rarely, MRSA can cause pneumonia or other severe infections. Outbreaks of MRSA occur in places and during activities where people have close contact with one another and share equipment and personal items, including gyms, daycare centers, and during sports activities, as well as in healthcare settings. MRSA is usually spread through direct physical contact with an infected individual, but can sometimes be spread by touching objects such as bandages, towels, sheets, or clothing that have been contaminated with the bacteria. To prevent the spread of MRSA in sports teams and health clubs, athletes with draining lesions should not participate in contact sports unless the abrasion or cut can be covered completely with a clean, dry bandage. Public health experts also recommend that all athletes: � shower with soap and water immediately after each game, meet or practice; � keep abrasions or cuts covered with a clean dry bandage, and change the bandage at least daily; � do not share personal items, such as towels, razors, soap, or deodorant with others; � use a barrier such as clothing or a towel between their skin and shared equipment; � wipe down surfaces of equipment or gear before and after use with alcohol or an approved antibacterial solution (such as Lysol�, Mr. Clean�, or a household bleach solution); and � report skin lesions to the school or facility nurse, coach or manager immediately. People with MRSA can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by covering their wounds, washing their hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer; not sharing personal items; washing clothes and bedding in hot water with detergent and drying them in a hot dryer; and carefully following doctor�s directions, including taking all prescribed antibiotics. Emergency and Medical Needs of students Emergencies: We try to prevent emergencies through awareness and education. Emergency Action Plans are developed for all students who have chronic conditions like Asthma, Diabetes, Severe Allergies etc. Please contact me with any health information you believe to be important. This way we can work together and be pro-active and can respond to emergency situations with a plan. All medical information is confidential. After I develop an Emergency Action Plan for a student, I will copy all teachers on a need-to- know basis. Several children at our school have a severe allergy to peanut and nut products. Strict avoidance of nuts is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. The allergy can be life threatening. Along with ingesting the peanut or nut product, these students could also have a reaction if another student shares food or if that student�s hands have peanut butter or any nut products on them and he/she shares an item such as a pencil. If your child has a classmate with peanut allergies, we ask that you do not send in any foods containing peanuts or nuts. When sending in special goodies for parties, please let the teacher know the ingredients. Ideally, items purchased from a store or bakery would be best, since they come with an ingredient list. Many non-peanut products such as popcorn are cooked with peanut oil. If you do send peanut butter or any food containing nut products, please notify the teacher so that the allergic student can sit away from him/her. Planning ahead and notifying the teacher will allow students with nut allergies to participate by bringing a special snack from home. Please see me with any questions. This law permits students with asthma or subject to anaphylactic (allergic) reactions to possess and self-administer asthma medication. New Hanover County Schools requires that an additional inhaler be kept in the locked medicine cabinet, even in cases where the student carries the inhaler with them. The physician also needs to circle the appropriate box on the Physician Authorization Form and the student must demonstrate competence in self-administration to the School Nurse. Please see me with any questions. A new bill that impacts schools is The Care for School Children with Diabetes Act (Senate Bill 911),which passed unanimously in the NC Senate. Some Guide lines that are outlined in this bill includes: 1. Children who have diabetes should have immediate access to diabetes supplies. They may monitor their blood sugar anywhere, in the classroom or my office or wherever they need to. This means they may carry their insulin and needles and glucometer around with them. 2. Because the students with diabetes may have low or high blood sugar, they are also allowed to eat anywhere, and have access to fluids anytime. What goes in must come out so they need to be allowed to use the bathroom as necessary. 3. Their lunch should not be excessively early or late, no PE classes right before lunch. 4. With either high or low blood sugar these students may experience many symptoms such as irritability, drowsiness, disorientation, lack of coordination, hunger, thirstiness, personality change, they may not feel well and not be able to perform academically. If a student experiences a high or low blood sugar, teachers must allow the student to take a test at another time. If a student has a low blood sugar, this is potentially a life threatening situation. Please do not hesitate to come talk to me to discuss your concerns and let me know how I can best help you. All students should wash hands before lunch and after using the bathroom. I can teach or arrange handwashing and other Health Education classes by request. Go to the website: Http://www.cpsc.gov to review the latest list of toys recalled. Because of globalization, environmental problems from anywhere in the world can send dangerous products to the neighborhood store. In recent months, 25 million mostly Chinese-made toys have been recalled for containing dangerous amounts of lead or magnets, which can cause intestinal damage if swallowed. Toy industries have been retesting toys and stepping up quality control, but it is important to beware of toy dangers, shop safely and remember to check your child�s toys, especially new items received over the holidays. Know your poisons. When lead is ingested or inhaled, it can cause neurological problems and interfere with brain development. There is no safe level of lead in the bloodstream. Lead has been banned in U.S. toy paint since 1978, but has been coming into the country on imported toys. The U.S. can use lead as an additive to plastics, where it is not as accessible, but parents of teething toddlers should stick with toys made of natural materials such as wood, cotton terry cloth or those made by manufacturers who do not use lead in their plastics. Stuffed animals, books, videos and athletic gear may be a better choice than painted toys. Phthalates, another group of chemicals, are used in soft vinyl toys. Experts disagree about their dangers, but they are banned in Europe and, starting in 2009, in California. To avoid Phthalates, shop for toys made of latex, silicon or that claim to be �PVC free� on their tags. Clean out the toy box. Little children put toys in their mouth an average of 20 times an hour. If your toddler has a toy that is constantly chewed, check its pedigree with the manufacturer and against the Consumer Product Safety Commission�s recall list at cpsc.gov. Get rid of toys that are flaking, chipped or breaking down. Beware of your favorite characters. The toys with the most recalls are those licensed to be reproduced in enormous quantities: Mattel�s Doras, Diegos, Elmos � and the Thomases, made by RC2 Corp. You are better off with toys made in smaller batches. Do your research. A call to a toy company can get you product information. Also, environmental groups post safety rankings of 1,500 top toys at Healthytoys.org. Spend a little more and shop at reputable retailers, which have their own standards, controls and lead tests. Some to check out on the web are oompa.com, discoverytoys.com, nmctoys.com, playstoretoys.com and ebeanstalk.com. Recognize that products that have been recalled may still be available online through auction web sites. Additional Information This information is brought to you by ComPsych� GuidanceResources Immunization (Shots for School) Immunizations Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents. What immunizations are required to enter public/private school in N.C.? What N.C. statute requires immunizations for children? What is the school's responsibility? What if the student's immunization record is lost/ cannot be located? Are there exceptions to the required immunizations? -------------------------------------- What immunizations are required to enter public/private school in N.C.? 1. DIPTHERIA,TETANUS,PERTUSSIS(DPT/DTaP): 5 doses with second booster on/after age 4; 4 doses if last dose given on/after age 4. ALL INDIVIDUALS ENTERING 6TH GRADE ON/AFTER AUGUST 1,2008 MUST RECEIVE A BOOSTER DOSE IF 5 YEARS OR MORE HAS PASSED SINCE THE LAST DOSE. 2. POLIO: 4 doses before enrolling in K-1 for first time; 3 doses if last given on/after age 4. 3. MEASLES: 2 doses on/after age 12 months at least 28 days apart or more. 4. MUMPS: 2 doses on/after age 12 months,HOWEVER, AN INDIVIDUAL ENTERING SCHOOL PRIOR TO JULY 1,2008 IS NOT REQUIRED TO RECEIVE A 2nd DOSE OF MUMPS VACCINE. 5. RUBELLA: 1 dose on/after age 12 months. 6. HIB: 1 dose on/after age 1 or complete series. NOT GIVEN TO CHILDREN AGE 5 OR OLDER. 7. HEPATITIS B: 3 doses children born on/after 7/1/1994. 8. VARICELLA: 1 dose on/after age 12 months children born on/after 4/1/2001. Back to Top -------------------------------------- What N.C. statute requires immunizations for children? G.S. 130A-152(a) requires parent/guardian/person in loco to ensure children receive required immunizations. A certificate of immunization must be presented to the school for each child attending. Back to Top -------------------------------------- What is the school's responsibility? The school must notify all parent/guardian/person in loco that they have 30 calendar days from the first day of school to present the required up-to- date immunization record. If not complete, the required immunizations must be obtained within the same 30 day period. Upon termination of the 30 calendar day period, the principal shall not permit any child to attend school until he/she provides a certificate of immunization as required by law. Back to Top -------------------------------------- What if the student's immunization record is lost/ cannot be located? The law requires that the student be revaccinated on an age- appropriate accelerated schedule to the minimum required by law. Back to Top -------------------------------------- Are there exceptions to the required immunizations? Medical Exemption: Permitted when an immunization is harmful to a student. Valid exemptions will be written/signed by a Physician licensed to practice in N.C. The exemption must correspond to the medical contraindications specified in the NC Immunization Rules. Religious Exemption: Parent/guardian/person in loco must place a signed statement on file in the student's record. An objection based on personal/philosophic beliefs are not acceptable. Back to Top |
|
