Health Room

Physical Education is a regular part of our school curriculum. If a child has an injury or illness that requires that they be excused from activity in physical education, a physician’s order should be sent to the nurse and PE teacher. It is expected that any child who has restricted activity in physical education will have restricted activity at recess. We need to be certain that any student who is recovering from an injury or illness is safe at school.

 

According to school district policy, any child well enough to attend school should be well enough to participate in recess. Fresh air and activity are important to learning. Time outside helps clear the mind and encourages further learning. Occasionally a parent will request that a student remain inside because of a “cold” or “ear infection”. Studies show that it is helpful to be outside for short periods while a upper respiratory infection is present. The increased humidity outdoors often helps clear the congestion. As long as a child is dressed appropriately for the weather it is not detrimental to their health to go outside for recess. All students should bring hats and mittens to wear if the weather is cool. If recess accommodations are needed, please consult with your physician and meet with our staff to develop an appropriate plan.

The policy for managing head lice is: Students who are found to have head lice should be excluded from school at the end of the school day until after their first treatment with a head lice removal product. Students in kindergarten and students who are considered medically fragile regardless of grade level should be sent home as soon as head lice are discovered until after their first treatment with a head lice removal product.

 

The primary way head lice is passed from student to student is direct contact – meaning: head – to – head contact which is the most common. Also, by sharing hair brushes/combs, helmets, bed linens, pillows, stuffed animals, earphones.

 

Students may return to school the morning after a treatment with a head lice removal product.

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According to school district policy, any child well enough to attend school should be well enough to participate in recess. Fresh air and activity are important to learning. Time outside helps clear the mind and encourages further learning. Occasionally a parent will request that a student remain inside because of a “cold” or “ear infection”. Studies show that it is helpful to be outside for short periods while a upper respiratory infection is present. The increased humidity outdoors often helps clear the congestion. As long as a child is dressed appropriately for the weather it is not detrimental to their health to go outside for recess. All students should bring hats and mittens to wear if the weather is cool. If recess accommodations are needed, please consult with your physician and meet with our staff to develop an appropriate plan.

Please check this website for the 2010-11 school immunizations to make sure your child(ren) are up to date. If not, please try to schedule them for an appointment to get them caught up on their immunizations. Please bring a completed immunization form to school at registration.

 

Exclusions

Required Immunizations

Please do not send your child to school if any of these symptoms or signs present in the previous 24 hours:

 

Elevated temperature (100 or higher)

Acute cold, sore throat, or persistent cough

Vomiting, nausea, or abdominal pain

Repeated diarrhea

Purulent discharge (anything other than clear discharge) from the nose or eyes resulting in a contagious condition

Red, inflamed, or discharging eyes

Suspected scabies, impetigo, acute skin rash or eruptions, any skin lesion in the weeping stage, head lice, or other infectious childhood condition

There will be times when it is difficult to tell when your child is too ill to go to school. Sometimes there is worry that he or she will miss important school work or perfect attendance. Like adults, children have different tolerances for discomfort and illness. Even with the common cold, some are able to function fine while others are miserable. If your child is coughing continuously, he or she won't be able to concentrate and will disrupt, and possibly expose others in the class.

 

If you have any questions at all, it is best to consult your child's primary care provider.

 

f you look at recent health information it states repeatedly that our children are becoming increasingly unhealthy. The major culprit is excessive weight. This is one of the first warning signs of health problems. We know excessive weight increases the risk of stroke, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Currently over one half of American adults are overweight.

 

Some studies have proved that children who are overweight at the age of eight are likely to be overweight as adults. Our children are heavier now than ever before. Children ages 6-11 are three times as likely to be overweight today as they were thirty years ago. Overweight adolescents age 12-17 have nearly doubled since the early 1970’s. 

 

Even though this is difficult to hear, it is important information to know. More children are being treated for diabetes and hypertension, diseases that were once relegated to adults. Conditions that we associate with adults such as back and joint pain can also be attributed to being overweight. 

Before medications can be administered at school parents/guardians must fill out the Permission for Medication form. Parent/Legal guardian should bring the medication in so that the appropriate form can be filled out and signed. This form gives the school permission to give the medication. Students are not supposed to have any medications with them at any time. All medications are to be kept in the health room.

 

      When students who take routine medications here at school are running low, I will send home reminder notes. Please send a refill of your child’s medication as soon as you can, so that your child does not run out of his/her medication. I will send home notes about medication pick-up at the end of the year. If the medications are not picked up by the end of year deadline, they will destroyed according to district policy.

     I will be sending out reminder letters for the medication pick-up. Please be looking for these. For safety reasons, we are not able to send ANY medications home with the students. Parents must pick up the medications.

 

 

See the links on the Health Room page for downloadable forms.

The summer time is a fun time for kids. However, statistics show that summer is when most accidents and injuries occur. This is in part due to children and families being more active and outdoors more. Here are some websites that have summer safety. They are geared towards kids in order to make it fun to learn the safety tips. There are games on most of them. some of the tips included are: water safety, sun safety, skating, bike safety, fire safety, and etc. There is also things for the parents regarding children's health and safety.

The following links provide information on a variety of topics. Saluda School District One DOES NOT necessarily endorse and IS NOT responsible for any information found on these web sites.

 

www.sparky.org Fire Safety

 

www.kidshealth.org/kid/watch Home Safety

 

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/safety/fworks.htm Fireworks safety

 

Poison Control- 1-800-222-1222

 

With warm weather here, there are a few things we need to remember:

 

HEAT STRESS This occurs when the temperatures rise and the humidity is trapped in the body. Children don't sweat as much as adults therefore, they are more at risk of heat problems than adults. Sweating is the primary way the body gets rid of heat. Children also do not rest or drink enough fluids. 

 

Some early symptoms of heat stress are :

Flushed face, leg cramps, feeling weak, or nausea. Later symptoms include: confusion, no sweating, or unconsciousness. 

 

It is best to take steps toward prevention. Drink plenty of fluids, avoid being outside between between 10 AM and 4 PM or stay in the shade, wear hats, and become conditioned to the heat by gradually exposing yourself to heat. 

 

It is very important to drink plenty of water everyday, especially in the warmer months. Water makes up 75% of your muscles and 25% of fat in your body. 

You need to drink at least 64 ounces each day, more during exercise. 

 

Don't forget the Sunblock. Everyone, regardless of skin color, is susceptible to skin cancer. Always use sunblock of 30+ SPF every time you are outside.

 

Head injuries are one of the most serious ways that kids get hurt while riding their bikes. They are the second leading cause of childhood injuries. Almost half of kids hospitalized for bike-related injuries are traumatic brain injury. Up to 80% of bike-related deaths are from head injuries. Bike helmets can dramatically reduce the risk of brain injury by up to 88%.

 

To ensure your child's helmet fits every time, be sure that:

1. The helmet sits level on your child's head - NEVER tilted!

2. Helmet is tight enough with the straps fastened that sudden movement can move the helmet around.

3. No caps under the helmet.

4. The straps form a V under the earlobes.

5. Has strong wide straps that fasten under the chin.

6. You can only get one finger width beneath the strap.

7. Rim of helmet is on or two finger widths above the eyebrows.

8. The buckle is flush against the skin under the chin.

9. The helmet is always fastened while riding.

 

If your child's helmet was made before 1999, it should be replaced with a new helmet that meets or exceeds the safety standards. 

I hope everyone has a safe and fun summer. I hope your student will be well rested in August and ready to come back to school for another fun and exciting year here at Saluda Primary.

I can't tell you how many children I see each day with the complaint of a "Tummy Ache". It is one of the most common complaints in the Health Room.

Most of us would tend to dismiss those complaints as run of the mill. How do you know when to pay more attention when a child says they have a "Tummy Ache"?

 

10% of 5 - 12 year olds have what is described as chronic non-specific abdominal pain. Abdominal pain that has no apparent cause.

 

Let's look at a few possible causes:

Lack of food/water

Junk food

Constipation

Food Poisoning

Infections (strep throat, pneumonia, urinary tract)

Hormonal changes (Ovulation, menses)

Stress

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Migraines

Pathology (Sickle cell crisis, appendicitis, ulcers, etc.)

That's why we have to look at other factors, how often does it happen? Are there any other symptoms present such as diarrhea, vomiting, and fever? What do they look like? Are they pale, have they lost weight? Do you notice any swelling? Are they irritable? These are all questions to be asked.

 

Does food or drink relieve the pain? Rest or medication? Are they able to eat, drink, and void? All of these assessments are taken into account when I phone a parent/guardian. If a student is able to return to class, they do so. If the abdominal pain has not resolved, I will not hesitate to phone you.

 

What can we do as parents? We must ensure that proper nutrition; rest needs are being met. It is a good idea to make sure they have enough water daily. It is a good idea to stay abreast of their bowel and urinary habits. 

 

A little prevention goes a long way.

This information is not intended to replace that of your primary care physician.