Head Lice

One of the most common misconceptions is that head lice only happen to the poor, the unclean, or the uneducated. For a long time, it was thought that people got head lice only from being in filthy environments or because of poor hygiene. We know that isn’t true. Head lice are found on children who attend any school, who shampoo daily and have short or long hair. In fact head lice prefer a clean head. It can happen to anyone.

Head lice are small insects about the size of a sesame seed. They are tan or grayish and are often difficult to see. They like to be in dark places and will quickly hide under hair when you part it to look for them. It is usually easier to find the nits or eggs. Nits are whitish and teardrop shaped and very tiny. You will find them attached to the hair. They are “glued” on and are difficult to remove. Head lice can’t fly or jump, so don’t be concerned when you are looking for them.

If you are certain your child has head lice, check other family members. Everyone infested should be treated at the same time. Don’t worry about the family pet, head lice only live on people. Please inform the school ASAP so that the spread in your child’s classroom can be limited.

Children cannot ride the school bus until the school nurse has checked the child.

To successfully treat head lice several steps need to be followed:

1. Use of a lice (pediculicide) shampoo. There are several brands available, without prescription, at local pharmacies. Consult with your doctor before using any lice product on pregnant/nursing women, infants, or those with allergies. Read the label carefully and follow directions. Apply the shampoo to dry hair. Wetting the hair first makes it less effective. It is best to do this over a sink as this keeps the shampoo on the scalp only. Make sure behind the ears and the nape of the neck is treated thoroughly. If you notice swollen glands in the neck or under the arm, or scratch marks can be seen, infection may be present. Consult with your doctor before giving any treatment.

2. Comb out the nits while the hair is still wet. Use the comb that came with the shampoo or a separate one can be purchased. Many people find a metal comb more effective and it can be sterilized and re-used. It is time consuming but very important to remove all of the nits. If you are having a lot of difficulty, some people find that a vinegar rinse helps to loosen the nits. After you are done with this, shampoo with a regular shampoo. Check daily and keep removing any nits that might have been missed. A second treatment, 7-10 days after the first treatment, may be necessary to eliminate any new nits or lice. If after these two treatments the problem still exists consult with your doctor. Remember your child has to be “nit free” to return to school.

3. Since lice can survive off the body for several hours and nits for longer, it is important that your immediate environment be cleaned. Vacuum carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture and mattresses. Wash recently worn clothing, towels, sheet and linens in hot, soapy water and dry in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. Items that can’t be washed can be vacuumed or placed in a plastic bag and sealed for 2 weeks. Soak all combs and hairbrushes in hot water (130 degrees) or in rubbing alcohol for 10 minutes. Vacuum your car seats and headrests.

Do not use sprays-they are not effective and are potentially harmful to humans and pets. All of these measures take time and patience, but should limit the spread of head lice in your family and in school. If you have any questions about head lice and treatment, I am more than happy to help you with the answers.

If you have a computer handy go to the National Pediculosis Association web site at www.headlice.org. They have a wealth of information.

Nurse Donna

Week of September 12th update

Strep throat is still on the rise; first, second and third grade classes at this time. Should your child complain of a sore throat, please take it seriously.

It is also the season for head lice so I ask that you remind your children not to share hair items, brushes, scrunchies, hats, hoodies, etc. Girls with long hair should try to pull it back while riding the bus to avoid additonal exposure. Remember it is not a hygeine issue, but rather a pesky issue that can happen to any of our children.

Most importantly; I need to stress proper hand washing for ALL our children. Especially while at school. Proper hand washing technique to teach your childen is;

1. Use warm running water
2. Use liquid or pump soap whenever possible
3. Rub hands/fingers together 10-20 seconds vigorously
4. Scrub under fingernails (germs hide there)
5. Rinse and dry well

Sometimes it helps to teach our little ones to sing either Happy Birthday or the ABC's song while washing to assure they wash long enough before rinsing.

Always remember, hand washing IS the #1 preventative in preventing the spread of viruses per the Center of Disease Control.

Happy hand washing and good health to all,

Nurse Donna

Strep Throat

Please be advised that we have positive diagnosis of Strep Throat in both 1st & second grade classrooms at this time. If you child develops a fever or sore throat, DO NOT send your child to school and PLEASE follow up with your family physician immediately for treatment options.

Should a unknown rash develop please seek medical attention as strep w/rash is also known as “Scarlet Fever

***Symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, vomiting and red, swollen tonsils***

It is a great time to reinforce proper hand washing techniques at home with your children and remind them to not put their fingers in their mouth, nose or eyes as they are the 3 ways by which viruses enter the body.

Wishing everyone a healthy day,

Nurse Donna

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