THE SCHOOL NURSE PHONE NUMBER IS:  973-661-8984

WINTER/COLD WEATHER:  

If your child has chapped or dry lips, please send in lip balm with them so they do not need to come to the nurse frequently during the school day.

If you child is having cold symptoms (including a cough) or not feeling well, please take their temperature before coming to school. If you feel they need cold medication to feel better, please contact your pediatrician for medication recommendations but please do not send a child medicated for a fever to school.  A child should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication for school admittance. We do not want to spread infections in the school environment so please use good judgement in sending your child to school when he/she is not feeling well. 

If your child should need to be taken home due to an illness or injury, please be sure we have updated contact information. If a parent or both parents work, please have a contact available to take your child home in a timely manner. 

Please be sure your child dresses appropriately for the cold weather. They go outside for lunch recess when the temperature is above freezing and may need hats and gloves as well as a warm coat. Also, remind your children not to leave coats, sweaters, hats, gloves, etc. at school. It is a good idea to put your child's name in their belongings 

SEASONAL ALLERGIES :

If your child has seasonal allergies, please assess how they feel in the morning before coming to school. If they take daily allergy medication, please ensure they have had their medication before coming to school including nasal sprays and eye drops.

COUGH DROPS - IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE COUGH DROPS IN SCHOOL, PLEASE SEND THEM IN WITH A NOTE TO THE NURSE'S OFFICE. I WILL NOT BE GIVING OUT ANY COUGH DROPS WITHOUT PARENT PERMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE THEM IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE THEM IN SCHOOL.

MEDICATION IN THE SCHOOL SETTING

If you need your child to be given medication in school, we need a prescription from your medical provider or we can also provide you with a school form for your medical provider to fill out. If the medication is over the counter (OTC), the medication should be in the original container and an unexpired date. If it is a medication that requires a prescription, it should have the child's name on the label with instructions how to give the medication along with a paper prescription with the medical providers instructions and signature.

ILLNESSES/ABSENCES   

In order for us to monitor illness in our school building, it is advisable to let our Main Office know exactly what illness your child(ren) are experiencing. When you just say "sick" or "illness" it does not give us enough information to decipher if we have a number of students with the same illness. It is in our policy to always call the school when your child(ren) are absent from school and if he/she is absent 3 days or more, you should provide a written note from your health care provider so we know they have been cleared to return to school.

The absentee call line # is: 973-320-8309

CONSIDERATION FOR PREGNANT STAFF:

Some illnesses/diseases have a potential to harm a fetus in the womb. A pregnant person may need to be checked by their maternity medical provider if exposed to certain illnesses to ensure the safety and health of their unborn child. Please advise the school if your child has any of the following illnesses:

• Slapped cheek syndrome/Fifths disease
• CMV (cytomegalovirus)
• German Measles
• Chicken pox
• Zika virus

INJURIES/ACTIVITY RESTRICTIONS

If your child sustains an injury, please advise the school. If your child has a cast, orthopedic boot, sutures, ace bandage or coban bandage wrap (or other injuries), please provide us with a medical provider's note to instruct the school what type of activities are permitted while your child is healing. Also we need a medical note if your child requires the use of the elevator if they are not permitted to climb or descend on the stairs. We would need medical clearance from your medical provider after an injury for instructions to have your child participate in activities again.

THE FLU

Influenza (also known as the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose throat, and lungs Flu is different from a cold, and usually comes on suddenly. Each year flu viruses cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospital stays and thousands or tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. 

Flu can be very dangerous for children. CDC estimates that between 6,000 and 26,00 children younger than 5 years have been hospitalized each year in the United States because of influenza. The flu vaccine is safe and helps protect children from flu. 

How does the flu spread?

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly by droplets made when someone with flu coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people nearby. A person also can get flu by touching something that has flu virus on it and then toughing their mouth, eyes, or nose.

What are flu symptoms?

Flu symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, feeling tired and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults). Some people with the flu will not have a fever. 

How can I protect my child from flu?

The first and best way to protect against flu is to get a  yearly flu vaccine for yourself and your child.

The Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 mouths and older every year. Flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines are both options for vaccination. 

It is especially important that young children and children with certain long-term health problems get vaccinated.

How long can a sick person spread flu to others?

People with flu may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to up to 5 to 7 days after. Severely ill people or young children may be able to spread the flu longer, especially if they have symptoms.

Can my child go to school, day care, or camp if he or she is sick?

No. Your child should stay home to re st and to avoid spreading flu to other children or caregivers.

When can my child go back to school after having flu?

Keep your child home from school, day care, or camp for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. (The fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) A fever is defined as 100 Degrees F (37.8 degrees C) or higher. 

(CDC website, "The Flu: A Guide for Parents")

GENERAL ILLNESS OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN SCHOOL

FEVER, VOMIT, DIARRHEA FREE FOR 24 HOURS WITHOUT THE USE OF MEDICATION

STREP THROAT:  Child may return to school 24-48 hours after starting antibiotic therapy with doctor approval.

SKIN RASHES:  If your child exhibits a skin rash of undetermined origin, please consult your health care provider before sending

  the child to school. It must be diagnosed and if contagious, the child must remain out of the school setting until

  cleared to return to school by a medical provider.

PINK EYE:  Child may exhibit tears, redness, irritation of the eye followed by swelling and sometime also a discharge of pus. Please

  consult with a health care provider and a doctor's note is required for readmission to school. (Please advise the nurse in September

  if your child has seasonal allergies. The eye symptoms are similar to those of pink eye but the irritation is of a different origin.)

HEAD LICE: Remain out of school until treatment completed and lice free.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK:

                       If a student comes to the nurse office feeling sick/ill (especially when the school day is just beginning) the nurse will be calling

                       the caregiver/parent.  This includes other illnesses such as an earache, toothache, excessvie fatigue, 

                       excessive coughing, headache, pain, chills, sore throat. Also if you send your child to school sick, YOU MAY BE INFECTING

                       OTHER UNSUSPECTING CHILDREN/STAFF. 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR CHILD TO USE COUGH DROPS DURING SCHOOL HOURS, PLEASE SEND IN COUGH DROPS AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN NOTE AND SEND TO THE NURSE'S OFFICE.  

TOWNSHIP OF NUTLEY HEALTH DEPARTMENT     Phone # 973-284-4951 x 2410 Office

Website: www.nutleynj.org/health                                      Fax      #973-284-1026