Influenza Season Is Here

What are flu symptoms? Flu symptoms include: • A 100 degree or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever) • A cough and/or sore throat • A runny or stuffy nose • Headaches and/or body aches • Chills • Fatigue • Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children) The flu and the common cold have similar symptoms. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them. Your health care provider can give you a test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether or not you have the flu. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. When should I seek emergency medical attention? Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following: • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath • Purple or blue discoloration of the lips • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen • Sudden dizziness • Confusion • Severe or persistent vomiting • Seizures • Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough More information can be found on the CDC webpage. Nurse Donna

Enterovirus (EV-D68) Tips from Dr. Will's

The T Zone: Your First Line of Defense to Prevent Contraction of Enterovirus! The outbreak of Enterorvirus D68 (EV-D68) that's suspected of sickening children in a dozen states most likely will get worse before it gets better. "Respiratory infections like this can spread quite quickly across the U.S.," according to CDC's Anne Schuchat, M.D.    Join Henry the Hand Foundation's campaign for "T Zone Teaching Moment" and help others in your community (family, friends and work place) understand the importance of not touching your T Zone. It is your second line of defense preventing infectious diseases including Enterovirus as proper hand washing is still the #1 prevenative!   The T Zone is a common area that people touch throughout the day "unconsciously" and we are trying to help put an end to this unhealthy habit! Risky behavior puts you at risk for unintended consequence! What many do not realize is that you are inoculating YOURSELF with whatever germs are on your hands.   This is the time for YOU to discover the "T Zone Teaching Moment" and help others to break this unhealthy habit.   Remember it is Back to School time when many infections are brought into the classroom to be shared with others! The 4 Principles of Hand Awareness 1. Wash your hands when they are dirty and BEFORE eating 2. DO NOT cough into your hands 3. DO NOT sneeze into your hands 4. Above all, DO NOT put your fingers into your eyes, nose or mouth Special thanks goes out to Dr. Will's healthful tips! Nurse Donna

Hand Washing IS #1 Prevenative Against Illnesses

Germs are so small that you can not see them and they are found almost everywhere. There are many types of germs (bacteria and viruses). Bacteria and viruses can cause illnesses and diseases such as: colds, influenza, pneumonia,hepatitis A and shigellosis. Washing your hands is the best prevention against these illnesses and diseases! How to Wash Your Hands: Use warm, running water. Use liquid or pump soap whenever possible. Rub hands together vigorously for 10-20 seconds. Pay special attention to the cuticles and underneath the fingernails. Rinse thoroughly and dry off hands with a dry paper towel or hand dryer. When to Wash Your Hands: After using the toilet. After playing with animals, handling money and coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. Before preparing, touching or eating food. Importance of Handwashing: Illnesses and diseases caused by bacteria and viruses can be very serious and can even cause death if not properly treated. Germs can be spread four ways: fecal-oral contact (e.g., hepatitis A and shigellosis), direct/close contact (e.g ., lice), blood contact (e.g., HIVIAIDS and hepatitis B), and respiratorylairborne contact (e.g., influenza and colds). Nurse Donna

Strep Throat is Raising it's Ugly Head

What is Strep throat? Strep throat and Scarlet fever (a rash that sometimes accompanies strep throat) are caused by the beta hemolytic streptococcus, type A bacteria. The organisms are spread by contact with secretions from the mouth and nose of infected persons. The incubation is short, usually 2 to 5 days. Infected persons are considered contagious until 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is begun. What are the signs and symptoms or strep throat? The signs and symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands under the jaw and in the neck, and pus pockets on the tonsils. Vomiting and stomach pain may also occur. Additionally, with scarlet fever there is a fine, red, sandpapery skin rash. What should I do if I think my child has strep throat? If a sore throat is suspected, if would be recommended to go ahead and seek medical care. A throat culture will be done to determine the diagnosis. If the culture is positive, a ten-day course of an antibiotic, is prescribed. The child should be out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy is received and condition improved to return to school. If the culture is negative, the cause is probably viral and the treatment is warm salt water gargles, force fluids, rest, and Tylenol. Can strep throat be prevented? YES! Frequent handwashing, plenty of rest, and adequate diet will to go far to protect your child against strep throat and other germs which tend to be more prevalent this time of year. Be careful not to share cups or utensils that can also lead to the spread of germs. If you have any further questions, please contact your family physician or the school nurse. Nurse Donna

Back to School Vaccination Reminder

Just a friendly reminder as we prepare to return to school, ALL 7th graders must have their Tdap booster by mid September. ALL kindergarten students should have completed their vaccination series as well by mid September. You can find the state mandated vaccination requirements on the school health page by clicking on the "red alert button" by vaccinations for 2014-2015. Should you have any concerns or questions feel free to call my office after 8/19/14 and I will be happy to assist you. See you soon, Nurse Donna

Summer Health Tips

I hope that everyone enjoys this special time of year, but we want to also remind parents that there are potential dangers during the summer months, and it’s important to be aware of what they are. The more information one learns about how to prevent illnesses and injuries, the less likely they will occur. There are many areas to cover when it comes to summer safety, and we’ll review just a few here. Please keep in mind that this is a brief list of tips. For more information check out the web sites recommended at the end of this article. Tick Bites Ticks are responsible for a variety of illnesses including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. These diseases can be very serious. Learn ways to protect your family. Some suggestions include: •protective clothing (long sleeves, long pants, tucking pants into socks) •tick/bug repellant •insect repellant for pets •staying in the center of paths, keeping away from overgrown areas and not sitting directly on the ground •performing tick checks on all family members every day •being aware of signs/symptoms of tick-related illnesses •calling the doctor for any concerns and questions Helmet Safety •An appropriate helmet must be worn whenever a child is “on wheels.” This means bicycles, scooters, skates, rollerblades, skateboards and more! •The helmet must fit properly. •Helmets can be life saving and can protect a child from serious injury. •Be sure the right type of helmet is being used. For example, a bike helmet needs to be used for biking. •Moms and dads should wear helmets as well. Pedestrian Safety •Teach children to walk, not run, across the street. •Children should cross only with an adult or an older, responsible child. •Whenever crossing the street, try to make eye contact with any drivers nearby, to be sure they see you. •Teach children to avoid running out from between parked cars. •Use sidewalks whenever possible. •Always hold your child’s hand near any moving or parked vehicles. •Adults always need to set a good example! Water Safety Adult supervision is of paramount importance. Parents need to focus on their children 100% of the time. No distractions! •Practice “touch supervision” (a term used by the American Academy of Pediatrics). This means that at all times, the supervising adult is within an arm’s length of the child being watched, when near or in the water. •Remember, no child or adult is “drown proof.” •Keep in mind that children can drown in many different water sources including: bathtubs, toilets, buckets, baby pools, backyard swimming pools, community pools, streams, creeks, lakes, rivers, oceans and other places. Sun Protection •Avoid sun exposure during peak sun hours (10 AM – 6 PM). •Wear protective clothing and a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses (with 99-100% UV protection). •Sunscreen is a must (on sunny and cloudy days)! Look for products with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 15 (according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Association of Dermatology). •Sunscreen should be applied liberally 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapplied every two hours or sooner if swimming, sweating or toweling off. •Look for shade whenever possible. Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac •It’s the oil from the leaves of these plants that cause the potential allergic reaction. •Consider wearing protective clothing to help decrease the amount of exposed skin. •Learn how to recognize what poison ivy, oak and sumac look like, so that they can be avoided. •Avoid bushy, overgrown areas and places which may contain these plants. Try to stay on paths. Summer First Aid Kit •Every family should have at least one first aid kit at home which is well stocked and readily accessible. •It’s also helpful to keep a first aid kit in the car and one to bring on trips. •Kids get lots of cuts and scrapes during the warm summer months, so it’s nice to be prepared. •Don’t forget to restock the kit once an item has been used. •Be sure to keep a list of emergency numbers where they are easy to find. This list should include: emergency medical services (911), the doctor’s number, the dentist’s number, poison control, a number where mom and/or dad can be reached and any other important phone numbers. Dehydration and Heat-Related Illnesses •Keeping well hydrated is very important. •Children (and adults) must remember to drink. •Do not wait until a child says he is thirsty before offering fluids. At this point, he is already dehydrated, so be sure to provide plenty of fluids before going outside, while out in the heat and afterwards. •Playing in the hot summer sun means lots of fluid losses, so avoid strenuous activity during peak sun hours (10 am- 6 pm). Look for shade and take lots of breaks. •Seek medical attention immediately for any signs of heat-related illness. Grilling •Never let children near the grill. Remember, it can remain very hot even after it is no longer being used. •Be sure to check the internal temperature of foods on the grill, to be sure everything has been cooked appropriately. •If picnicking outdoors, avoid leaving out foods that require refrigeration and/or foods that can quickly spoil. Have a great summer and we will see you in August. Nurse Donna

Preparing for Spring

What to wear, what to wear? Hard to believe but Springtime IS coming. With it comes the delimna;How to dress your children for school? Spring and early summer weather is unpredictable so it's hard to know what to wear. The mornings can be cool and windy and by afternoon, it may be hot and dry. We look outside and see sun, we think it's short sleeve and sandal weather. However, when we actually step outdoors, we quickly begin to shiver. So what can your children wear this time of year that will be comfortable, practical, and fashionable when heading to the bus in the morning, then to a lunchtime recess, and then home on the bus? Layers! Layered clothing has always been a great way of dealing with weather changes. In addition to trying to dress appropriately for a wide range of temperatures, the wind can put quite a damper on hair. Those with long hair are corroded with knots and frizz. Think about the amount of dust and dirt the wind weaves through our hair. Girls, try some braids or up-do’s to avoid the pain of brushing though knotted hair. With the winter we have experienced we are all eager to see the warmer weather arrive. But a taste of warm weather is not enough to satisfy the anticipation of summer. All we can do is hope for better weather so we can let our children outdoors to play instead of surfing the web indoors or gaming the night away. Spring, we await your arrival! Nurse Donna