Tips from the School Nurse Sept 2023-2024

Nurse Vicky says….Let's Stay Healthy! Staying healthy in cold weather...

       

Promoting Good Health, prevention methods include:

• Promoting hand washing. Washing their hands well and often will protect students from getting infected— and spreading — bacteria and viruses.
  
  Educate the students and take the time to do the necessary infection controls, such as washing hands and coughing into elbows.

 

Encouraging sick students to stay home. Students who have a fever, feel nauseated, are vomiting, or have diarrhea should stay home. Students should be fever-free and symptom-free 24hrs without taking medication to return to school.

Teaching and modeling hygienic coughing, sneezing, and nose-blowing. Respiratory infections can spread from student to student in airborne droplets from coughs and sneezes. We must all model good health habits.

Additionally, the CDC says we can help prevent flu infections by encouraging parents to get flu shots for their kids and teens. It’s not too early or too late to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated will give you the immunity needed and lessen the effects of flu symptoms.

 

Know the difference between a Cold vs the Flu.

 

Seasonal Allergies in Children- Spring is in the air…

WebMD Archive

Coughing, sneezing, itching, wheezing -- kids with allergies face a lot of miserable symptoms. And, your child's triggers may change over time. Sudden weather changes also can make symptoms flare.

Learn what triggers your child's allergies now, at least, and get serious about avoiding them. These tips can help you improve your child's breathing and quality of life.

Learn Your Child's Allergy Triggers: Is It…

• Dust
• Pollen
• Mold, mildew
• Tobacco, wood smoke
• Pet dander
• Chemical fumes, aerosols, fresh paint, perfume, scented products
• Weather fronts, wind, cold, or humid air
• Cockroach droppings
• Avoid High Pollen Periods

If your child is allergic to pollen:

• Learn when her outdoor trigger (ragweed or other weeds, grasses, or trees) is in bloom. Her doctor or a website will have pollen counts.

You may also want to:

• Run a HEPA room air cleaner in her bedroom.
• Limit cats and dogs from going in and out, even if your child is not allergic to them. Pet fur collects pollen and other allergens.

Make Your House a Nonsmoking Area 

Smoke can increase allergen deposits in your child's nose and lungs. Ban:  

• Smoking

Knowing Your child’s allergy triggers will keep your child breathing better!   

 

COVID 19

from Nutley Public Schools - September 2023

Please Note The Following Recommendations For Individuals Who Have Tested Positive For COVID-19, Regardless Of Symptoms:

 

• ISOLATE: Your child should isolate (separate from others) at home for at least five full days from when they began experiencing symptoms and avoid being around others as much as possible. Be sure to keep your child home from school, childcare, and extracurricular activities/sports. If symptoms resolve fever-free for 24 hours without medication such as Tylenol or Motrin and other symptoms improve, isolation can end after 5 full days (on Day 6).
• Please note counting days is as follows:     

o The day symptoms began was considered Day 0.

o If your child was asymptomatic (did not develop symptoms), Day 1 is the date the COVID-19 test was taken.

• MONITOR: Monitor your child’s symptoms and call your medical provider for worsening illness and for any other symptoms that seem severe or are concerning to you.
• PERSONAL NOTIFICATION: Please notify anyone your child has been in close contact with who may have been exposed. 
• MASKING: Your child must wear a well-fitting mask whenever around others Days 6-10. Your child may test out of wearing a mask if they test negative 48 hours apart, starting on Day 6. Persons who are unable to wear a mask when around others should stay home and isolate themselves from other people for a full 10 days.
• RETURN: On Day 6, if fever-free for 24 hours and other symptoms improve, your child may return to school;  however, they must continue to wear a well-fitted mask when around others during days 6 through 10. Your child may test out of wearing a mask if they test negative 48 hours apart, starting on day 6. Persons who are unable to wear a mask when around others should stay home and isolate themselves from other people for a full 10 days.
• DOCUMENTATION: If your child has seen their pediatrician or was seen by a medical professional, please provide any documentation you may have to the school nurse.

 

Please Contact Your Medical Healthcare Provider For Medical Guidance