• Cold and Flu Season
     

    Illnesses

    With flu season upon us there are numerous things you can do for your child to keep him/her healthy. The best ways to lower your child’s risk of getting the flu is to (1) have them vaccinated against seasonal flu, and (2) to educate them about how to keep germs from entering their bodies.

     

    Did you know that the single most important way to stay healthy year round is by frequent hand washing?  Did you know that many of our students do not wash their hands before eating or after using the bathroom?

     

    Children at school are constantly putting their fingers in their mouths especially if they have loose teeth. This is the easiest way for germs to enter the body. A good method is using a “hands off the face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face including mouth, nose and eyes. Germs can enter the body through all of these places.

     

    Encourage your child to sneeze or cough into their sleeve rather than into their hands or out into the air. Most illnesses are caused by oral or nasal secretions being released into the air or carried on hands.

     

    Strep is an illness common in elementary school age children. Symptoms can include a sore throat, fever, or stomach ache. Left untreated, strep can cause a more serious illness such as rheumatic fever or kidney disease. A culture by your child’s physician will confirm the presence of strep. Strep is an illness that should be reported to the school nurse so that a notice can be sent out if 3 or more students in the same class have strep.

     

    In the event that your child gets sick with a fever, a good rule of thumb to follow regarding when your child returns to school is that he/she be fever free for 24 hours (without taking any

    fever-reducing medication) before returning to school. Remember that the body temperature

    is lower in the morning and will continue to rise later in the day if the child is still sick.
     
     

    Lice

    It is not unusual for elementary school children to get head lice. This seems to occur every year.

     

    Please be vigilant about checking your child’s head  DAILY AND reporting any new cases of head lice to our nurse immediately. This is the best way to control the spread of head lice. If you notice your child complaining about an itchy head, please take the time to check him/her. The nurse will be glad to recheck your child if you are unsure if lice are present. Treat them with the special shampoo, but most importantly, report the case to the school nurse. Also, if your child has had close contact with other students outside of school (sleepovers, etc.), please alert their parents as well. Your child knows a lot about lice, and they can tell you that having dirty hair or a dusty house are not causes of head lice.

     

    For those of you who are unsure what head lice nits (egg sacs) look like, here is a brief description. They are most commonly found (while nits) behind the ears and/or at the nape of the neck. They are usually located approximately ½ to one-inch from the scalp; their ultimate goal is to get to the scalp where they will feed when they hatch into live bugs. Most times your child will complain of an itchy head when nits are present. The nit resembles a grain of sand glued to the individual strand of hair. It is tan in color and will not come off when you try to remove it between your thumb and forefinger. It will feel like a grain of sand glued to the strand of hair. Dandruff, hair gel, hairspray, dry scalp, etc. will all flake off the hair strand; nits (head lice) will not. If the eggs have hatched into live bugs, they will scatter when the hair is parted.  

     

    If you suspect that your child may have head lice but are not sure, please call the school nurse and she will check their head. The treatment involves using a special shampoo sold over the counter in drug stores and also health food stores, then removing the nits (which are loosened by the shampoo) with a special comb included with the shampoo. Please do not treat your child’s hair with this shampoo if no nits are found. The shampoo is not a preventative but rather a cure.

     

    For anyone who has had to deal with head lice in their homes, it is a monumental job. You not only have to rid the child’s head of nits/bugs entirely, but the work involved in ridding your home (furniture, bedding, carpeting, etc.) and car of the eggs takes a tremendous deal of time and energy. Please take 5 minutes every day to check your child’s head. If you do find nits/head lice, please notify the nurse and any friends’ families with whom your child has had recent contact.

     

    This is a common nuisance in elementary schools. This is no reflection on your child’s hygiene or the cleanliness of your home. You may pick up lice on the headrest of a movie seat or train seat, from a coat in a coat check at a restaurant, from helmets, and most definitely by using the same comb/brush of someone (even in your family) who has nits.  Discourage your child from piling his or her coat with other students’ coats as lice may transfer this way, too!

     

     Listed below are some useful facts about lice and some helpful links to more information:

    Did you know that…

    Head lice are small and wingless, varying in size from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch (about the size of a sesame seed).

    Eggs look like a grain of sand or small grain of rice and hatch in 7-10 days.

    Lice feed on blood every 3-6 hours. The primary symptom of infestation is itching.

    Eggs are firmly attached to the hair shaft.

    Females can lay up to 10 eggs a day, over 100 in their lifetime.

    If dislodged from the hair shaft and host, eggs die within 2 weeks. Off the scalp, adult head lice rarely survive beyond 36 hours.

    Head lice can infest anyone and prefer clean hair.

    Head lice are more of a nuisance than a health hazard.

    Head lice do not fly or jump. They are passed through direct contact. You cannot give head lice to your pets or get it from pets.

    The National Pediculosis Association estimates that as many as 12 million cases occur every year.  Lice move quickly and shy away from light during a head check.

     

    Sharing is not always a good thing! By sharing the items listed below:

     

    Combs

    Brushes

    Hats

    Hair clips

     

    Headbands

    Helmets

    Clothing

    Stuffed animals

    Costumes Pillows Coats
     

    Helpful links:

    www.headlice.org

     
     

     

    www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/default.htm

     

     

     Winter Safety Tips

    Hypothermia

     

    Hypothermia develops when a child's temperature falls below normal due to exposure to cold.  It often happens when a youngster is playing outdoors in extremely cold weather.
     

    As hypothermia sets in, the child may shiver and become lethargic and clumsy.  His speech may become slurred and his body temperature will decline.
     

    If you suspect your child is hypothermic, call 911 at once.  Until help arrives, take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing and wrap him in blankets or warm clothes.

    Winter Health

     

    If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds, try using a cold air humidifier in the child's room at night.  Saline nose drops may help keep tissues moist.  If bleeding is severe or recurrent, consult your pediatrician.
     

    Many pediatricians feel that bathing two or three times a week is enough for an infant's first year.  More frequent baths may dry out the skin, especially during the winter.
     

    Cold weather does not cause colds or flu.  But the viruses that cause colds and flu ten to be more common in the winter, when children are in school and are in closer contact with each other.  Frequent hand washing and teaching your child to sneeze or cough in the bend of her elbow may help reduce the spread of colds and flu.
     

    Children between 6 months and 18 years of age should get the influenza vaccine to reduce their risk of catching the flu.

     Sun Protection

    The sun's rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow.  Make sure to cover your child's exposed skin with sunscreen.  Winter sun can be just as damaging to eyes as summer sun due in part to the increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation reflected of snow, water, and the sides of towering clouds.  Children’s eyes need even more protection since they are more susceptible to damage from UV radiation than adult eyes.

    Please keep in mind that the text provided is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment.

     
    Dressing for the Winter

    Students go outside for recess during the winter months too when the ground is dry. It is healthy to get fresh air and get out of the school building for a short time. Please make sure your child is sent to school with a coat and gloves or mittens (all labeled with their names!). Sweatshirts are not warm enough for 30 degree temperatures. Children should be dressed for the outdoors at all times.

     
         Stay well!