Vaccination Deadline IS Approaching

One of my least favorite tasks at the beginning of the school year however it is the law. Many of you will be receiving bright pink notes stating that your child has until September 22, 2011 to provide proof of mandated vaccinations. If you receive this note, please heed the warning.

Those students that do not comply with Ohio law will NOT be able to return to school after that Friday, until their vaccination records are brought up to date. Should you have additional questions by all means call my office.

Nurse Donna

Immunization Requirements for Students

OHIO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS*

In accordance with the 2011-12 state law, students must have the following before they may enroll and attend school:

4 doses DTP – Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (5 doses if 4th dose was administered prior to age 4)*Required before entry into Kindergarten

3 POLIO-IPV – (4 doses required if a combination of IPV & OPV were given or if final dose was administered prior to age 4) *Required before entry into Kindergarten

3 HEPATITIS B – ALL Students K-12. ***If the 3rd dose was given before 6 months of age a 4th dose is required. *Required before entry into Kindergarten

2 MMR – Measles/Mumps/Rubella- ALL Students K-12. *Required before entry into Kindergarten

2 VARICELLA – Chicken Pox Immunization- 2 doses for K-1 1 dose for grades 2-5 *Required before entry into Kindergarten

All 7th & 8th grade students must have a Tdap booster to return to school.

**For students with religious or medical exemptions, special forms are located in the clinic.**

Special Note: By law, vaccination records must show “day” as well as month and year of each dose administered and must have the signature or stamp of the physician/health facility that administered these.

Should your child not meet these requirements a note will be sent home reminding you what vaccinations need to be completed. If these are not completed your child WILL be excluded from attending school. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the clinic and speak directly with me.

Wishing every student a successful school year,

Nurse Donna

Summer Safety Tips

Hoping this finds everyone enjoying their summer break as it won't be long till we are back in school.

I know all our parents at Black River Local School District strive to make every effort to keep your kids safe year-round, but it is especially important in the summer when most kids are out of school. Hot temperatures and more time spent outdoors, perhaps unsupervised, can put kids' health and safety at risk, leading to a lot of accidents and tragedies this time of year.

Sun and Summer Heat

The most obvious hidden dangers in the summer simply have to do with the heat and can include:

•heat stress and heat stroke, which can be prevented. Keep kids well-hydrated, take frequent breaks when playing outside, and watch for symptoms such as thirst, cramps, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and fever. Never leave a child or let her play in a hot car.
•getting burned on metal slides or other hot playground equipment.
•sunburns--although parents should be aware of the risks of not applying sunscreen or sunblock on their children, sunburns are still common (especially if lotions are not used properly.)
•never leaving a child unattended in a car, even for a few minutes, as a car can get hot quickly, and be sure to always lock your car and secure your keys so that your kids can't play in your car and get trapped inside

Water Safety Tips

Many families try to escape the summer heat in a pool or nearby lake. To keep your kids safe around the water be sure to:

•childproof your pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate.
•supervise your kids around the pool, even if they know how to swim.
•have children who don't know how to swim wear a life vest instead of "floaties" when they are in the pool.
•always have your child wear a life vest when on a lake or river, even if they know how to swim.
•take your child to swimming lessons once he or she is four to five years old, the age when most kids can learn to swim.

Other Summer Safety Tips

In addition to using sunscreen, supervising kids around water, and protecting your kids from the heat, you can keep your kids safe this summer by:

•checking the pool (or nearby ponds and hot tubs, etc.) first if a child is ever missing as someone calls 911. Next, check the car, including the trunk, as every second can count if your child has drowned or is trapped in a hot car.
•avoiding pourable gel fuel for firepots that have recently been recalled.
•educating kids at the beach that digging holes in the sand deeper than their knees can be a risk for a collapsing hole and getting trapped under the sand.
•keeping younger kids away from lawn mowers. Despite the need for a summer job or simply wanting to help, remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children younger than 16 years old should not be allowed to use ride-on mowers; children younger than 12 should not use walk-behind mowers.
•using insect repellents when necessary.
•doing a daily tick check if your kids have been playing outdoors, especially in or near wooded areas.
•outfitting your kids with appropriate protective gear, such as a helmet and pads, when they ride a bicycle, skateboard, or scooter, or while wearing heelys.
•putting a guard on windows above the first floor if you are going to routinely open the window during warmer weather to help prevent falls
•not letting your kids play with fireworks and instead visiting a public fireworks display this fourth of July.
•not eating food that has been left out for more than an hour at barbecues and family picnics, which can cause food poisoning.
•teaching your kids to recognize and avoid poison ivy.

And of course, keep your home well-childproofed. This also applies to wherever you are staying when you are on vacation, whether it is a hotel or relative's home.

Although not a safety danger, it's important to remember that time off from school also means that your child may have more opportunity to become inactive and eat more junk food, leading to his becoming overweight. Always encourage your child to be active and eat a healthy diet all summer long.

See you soon,

Nurse Donna

Do NOT Take Complaints of Sore Throats Lightly~

I cannot stress enough to parents the need to listen to their children's complaints of suspected illness's.

We are currently seeing more and more students in the elementary levels being treated for Strep Throat (and Scarlet Fever). If your child is complaining of a sore throat, upset stomach, headache, etc. please call your family doctor and have them evaluated. Not always will you see a rise in temperature so I ask that you do not presume no fever means all is well.

I ask that you continually stress the need for good hand washing techniques with your children as it remains the #1 preventative in decreasing the spread of ALL viruses/illness's.

Thank you and enjoy your Spring Break!
Donna

Is my child too ill to attend school?

Parents are often confronted with this decision when their child complains of not feeling well. The guidelines shown on the inside of this brochure may be helpful. It will not cover every medical condition and does not take the place of seeking medical attention. Please consult your doctor for specific medical advice.

Fever - 100 degrees or higher - A fever is a sign of illness. A child with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should not attend school. The child should be free of fever for 24 hours before returning to school.

Sore Throat/Colds/Cough - Minor cold symptoms are common and usually don't interfere with school attendance. A persistent, frequent cough and/or constant nasal drainage may affect your child's performance at school, and he/she may be more comfortable at home.

Rash - A rash may cover the entire body or only one area. A child that has a rash that is draining, has open areas or is causing the child to itch excessively should not attend school. A rash accompanied with other symptoms such as: a fever, sore throat, irritability, vomiting, etc. should not attend school.

Vomiting/Diarrhea - A child who has vomited should wait 24 hours and be able to retain solid foods before returning to school. A child who is having frequent diarrhea stools should not attend school. If there is cramping/abdominal pain with diarrhea, the student may be more comfortable at home.

Still dealing with stomach virus~

Just to keep you informed, we are still dealing with the stomach virus noted in January's posting. A couple cases of strep have been confirmed and head lice in a couple of classes. I believe we have seen a couple of cases of Influenza (one that I know was confirmed via lab testing) the other I suspect.

Again, I cannot stress the need for reminding your children of good hand washing techniques and to not touch the T-zone areas of their faces. This is the #1 way for viruses to enter the body. (T-zone is eye, nose & mouth)

On a upside of things Spring is coming and with this I must ask that you continue to make certain your children are dressing appropriately. Jackets & hats are a must on most days for now. Until we are in mid 60's no one should be without outer wear.

Nurse Donna

What IS Going Around Our School?

Keeping parents aware of the variety of illnesses/viruses in the school can be helpful in determining why your child may be telling you he/she is not feeling well.

Most recently we have been experiencing a stomach bug (Not Influenza) that entails vomiting, diarrhea for some and fevers ranging from 100 degrees up to 102 degrees. We have also had confirmation of Strep Throat in both Kindergarten and Fifth grade.

What is Black River doing to curb this? Our custodial crew continues to be diligent in cleaning the school building, paying close attention to the water fountains. Our teachers are quick to wipe desks down, reminding ALL students of good hand washing techniques and cough/sneezing etiquette.

What can YOU do? Basically the same..........Remind your child(ren) of the importance of hand washing, sneezing and coughing into their elbows rather than into the air or their hand. Remind them not to place their mouths on any water fountain when drinking from them. And last but not least, if they are telling you they do not feel well, take the time to check their temperatures, throats for white spots, etc. Ask yourself; Do they look well? Are their cheeks flushed? Are they acting like themselves? Generally a child that is not feeling well clearly looks and acts differently. These are simple cues to take note of.

I hope this provided some insight into how we can help keep our children healthy and in school. Lastly, eating healthy DOES play an important role in our children's well being. Promote eating a healthy breakfast. Advocate for your child to obtain the proper amount of sleep nightly. Set a bedtime and stick to it. Consistency in sleep habits and eating habits is a win-win for maintaining good health.

Think healthy,

Nurse Donna