Tips for Staying Healthy and
Information from our School Nurses
Hand washing---There is hand sanitizer in every
classroom and other strategic rooms as well. Teachers and staff have
been reminded as well as to remind the students to use these to wash
their hands frequently and whenever necessary. It is advisable to wash
with soap (it does not have to be antibacterial soap to be effective—H1N1 is virus) and water for 20 seconds, about the time it takes to recite the ABC’s.
Keep hands away from the Portal of Entry—EYES, NOSE, MOUTH
Because you cannot know when germs are on your hands, keeping them away
from your eyes, nose and mouth protects you from getting germs and
keeps you from spreading your germs to others.
Do the Dracula Cough/Sneeze –This is where you
cough/sneeze into the crook of your arm—think of Dracula with his cape
covering his mouth and nose. Or use a tissue to cough/sneeze into it but
wash or sanitize hands after using and throwing away the tissue.
REGULAR ROUTINE CLEANING OF DESKS, DOORKNOBS ETC IS ONGOING
School containment regarding fever — now more than ever, sick students must be
kept home! CDC recommendations are very firm about being out of school
for 24 hours after a the child’s temperature has dropped below 100
degrees and is no longer being treated by a fever reducing medication!
In other words—if your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or more,
then he/she cannot come back to school until it is lower than 100
without using any fever reducing medications such as Tylenol,
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil etc, for 24 hours. This applies
to both students AND staff.
School containment regarding illness -- it is very important that students have no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours and be eating normally before returning to school.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL HAS YOUR MOST CURRENT PHONE NUMBERS—CELL PHONES, BUSINESS PHONES—where you may pick up your child or make arrangements for someone to pick him/her up IN A PROMPT FASHION!
FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO DRIVE, PARENTS PER USUAL WILL BE
CONTACTED FOR PERMISSION TO GO HOME. THERE MAY BE INSTANCES WHERE A HIGH
SCHOOL STUDENT IS TOO SICK TO DRIVE AND THE PARENT/GUARDIAN MAY NEED TO
PICK HIM/HER UP AS WELL.
PRACTICE GOOD HEALTH HABITS: get plenty of sleep--
8-10 hours even for high school students; drink plenty of
fluids—especially water; exercise regularly (increases the metabolism
and releases endorphins both making you feel better); eat healthy
foods—especially green leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, cabbage
and fruits high in Vitamin C like oranges, strawberries, blueberries.
If your student is sick and needs to be seen by a doctor, contact the USD 262 School-Based Health Clinic. Learn more here:
SBHC