NURSES NOTES

Things to keep in mind

Viral and bacterial infections spread easily from person to person in fluids from the nose, mouth, and throat of someone with the infection, especially through large droplets from coughs and sneezes.

Students and staff need to remember

The best prevention is with good hygiene.

Hand washing

Cover the cough or sneeze.

Stay home if you are sick.

• Be familiar with the following ACS board policies.

http://www.averyschools.net

ACS Fever Policy # 6128

ACS Contagious Illness policy #6122

• Follow the CDC guidelines for illness at school.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits/

• Cover the cough

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm

• Good hand-washing

http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/

• Follow recommendations for hand sanitizer use.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hand-washing/HQ00407/NSECTIONGROUP=2

• Refer to the School Health Services Website for information and web links.

http://www.averyschools.net

Flu Vaccines

For those who did not receive a flu vaccine in the fall. Vaccines are still available and it is not too late

Flu Vaccines are available at the Avery Co Health Department

Fifth Disease

Strep throat is caused by an infection with group A streptococcus bacteria. This infection presents with sore throat, fever 101* or greater, head ache and/or stomach ache. If untreated a scarlet-colored rash that looks like a bad sunburn and feels rough may appear. This is called Scarlet fever or Scarlatina. All Streptococcus infections should be treated by a healthcare provider.

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

The cold and flu are both respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different types of viruses with different symptoms. Use this chart to learn the difference between the two.

http://www.flufacts.com/know/what-is.jsp

Emergency Warning Signs

If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

Emergency warning signs in children that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish or gray skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Not waking up or no interaction

• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Emergency warning signs in adults that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Severe or persistent vomiting

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

(a)       Local boards of education shall adopt a policy authorizing a
student with asthma or a student subject to anaphylactic reactions, or
both, to possess and self-administer asthma medication on school
property during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or
while in transit to or from school or school-sponsored events. As used
in this section, "asthma medication" means a medicine prescribed for
the treatment of asthma or anaphylactic reactions and includes a
prescribed asthma inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector. The policy
shall include a requirement that the student's parent or guardian
provide to the school:

(1)       Written authorization from the student's parent or guardian
for the student to possess and self-administer asthma medication.

(2)       A written statement from the student's health care
practitioner verifying that the student has asthma or an allergy that
could result in an anaphylactic reaction, or both, and that the health
care practitioner prescribed medication for use on school property
during the school day, at school-sponsored activities, or while in
transit to or from school or school-sponsored events.

(3)       A written statement from the student's health care
practitioner who prescribed the asthma medication that the student
understands, has been instructed in self-administration of the asthma
medication, and has demonstrated the skill level necessary to use the
asthma medication and any device that is necessary to administer the
asthma medication.

(4)       A written treatment plan and written emergency protocol
formulated by the health care practitioner who prescribed the medicine
for managing the student's asthma or anaphylaxis episodes and for
medication use by the student.

(5)       A statement provided by the school and signed by the
student's parent or guardian acknowledging that the local school
administrative unit and its employees and agents are not liable for an
injury arising from a student's possession and self-administration of
asthma medication.

(6)       Other requirements necessary to comply with State and federal laws.

(b)       The student must demonstrate to the school nurse, or the
nurse's designee, the skill level necessary to use the asthma
medication and any device that is necessary to administer the
medication.

(c)       The student's parent or guardian shall provide to the school
backup asthma medication that shall be kept at the student's school in
a location to which the student has immediate access in the event of
an asthma or anaphylaxis emergency.

(d)       Information provided to the school by the student's parent
or guardian shall be kept on file at the student's school in a
location easily accessible in the event of an asthma or anaphylaxis
emergency.

(e)       If a student uses asthma medication prescribed for the
student in a manner other than as prescribed, a school may impose on
the student disciplinary action according to the school's disciplinary
policy. A school may not impose disciplinary action that limits or
restricts the student's immediate access to the asthma medication.

(f)        The requirement that permission granted for a student to
possess and self-administer asthma medication shall be effective only
for the same school and for 365 calendar days and must be renewed
annually.

(g)       No local board of education, nor its members, employees,
designees, agents, or volunteers, shall be liable in civil damages to
any party for any act authorized by this section, or for any omission
relating to that act, unless that act or omission amounts to gross
negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing. (2005-22, s. 1;
2006-264, s. 57(b).)

New Report: North Carolina Ranks Tenth Most Obese State in the Nation

• Nine out of 10 regular smokers began using tobacco products before age 18.

• The average teen smoker begins at age 13.

• About 2/3 of teen smokers say they want to quit smoking.

• Every day, 3,000 kids become addicted to tobacco products.

• Almost 1,000 of them will die prematurely from tobacco- related disease.

• Eighty-five percent of underage smokers purchase the three most heavily advertised Brands: Marlboro, Newport, or Camel.

• After the Joe Camel cartoon campaign was introduced, Camel's market share among underage smokers jumped from 0.5% to 32.8%.

• Fifty percent of kids 12 to 17 who smoke own at least one promotional item with a tobacco logo.

• Nine out of 10 regular smokers began using tobacco products before age 18.

• The average teen smoker begins at age 13.

• About 2/3 of teen smokers say they want to quit smoking.

• Every day, 3,000 kids become addicted to tobacco products.

• Almost 1,000 of them will die prematurely from tobacco- related disease.

• Eighty-five percent of underage smokers purchase the three most heavily advertised Brands: Marlboro, Newport, or Camel.

• After the Joe Camel cartoon campaign was introduced, Camel's market share among underage smokers jumped from 0.5% to 32.8%.

• Fifty percent of kids 12 to 17 who smoke own at least one promotional item with a tobacco logo.

• Nine out of 10 regular smokers began using tobacco products before age 18.

• The average teen smoker begins at age 13.

• About 2/3 of teen smokers say they want to quit smoking.

• Every day, 3,000 kids become addicted to tobacco products.

• Almost 1,000 of them will die prematurely from tobacco- related disease.

• Eighty-five percent of underage smokers purchase the three most heavily advertised Brands: Marlboro, Newport, or Camel.

• After the Joe Camel cartoon campaign was introduced, Camel's market share among underage smokers jumped from 0.5% to 32.8%.

• Fifty percent of kids 12 to 17 who smoke own at least one promotional item with a tobacco logo.

http://www.gatordental.com/drugfree/nicotine.htm