10 Ways to Keep Your Kids Healthy During the School Year
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1. Encourage good handwashing.
Posted by:According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) the number one method for controlling the spread of disease is hand washing. Make sure you use soap, warm water, and wash all surfaces of the hands. A simple way to ensure you have washed long enough is to silently sing the “Happy Birthday” song to yourself twice while washing. Follow washing with a good rinse, pat hands dry, and use the towel to turn off the faucet to avoid getting hands dirty again. Wash hands after blowing the nose, playing with pets, before eating, after using the restroom, or when they are visible dirty.
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2. Make sure your child gets enough sleep each night.
Posted by:Children should get between nine and ten hours of sleep each night in order to feel rested. Those who do not get enough sleep are often groggy, irritable, and have decreased alertness in school. It’s easy to see how school performance and behavior are negatively affected when children are not rested.
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3. Make sure your child eats breakfast each day.
Posted by:Studies have shown that children who eat breakfast actually do better on tests, and are better able to fight off disease and infection. Breakfast should consist of wholesome nourishing foods such as cereal, fruit, juice, milk, eggs, peanut butter, toast, etc.
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4. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water.
Posted by:Many of the complaints that bring students to the clinic can be attributed to dehydration, such as headaches, stomachaches, sore throats and nosebleeds.
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5. Dress your child appropriately for the weather.
Posted by:Children who are too hot or too cold will have difficulty concentrating. During the winter months hats decrease heat loss through the head, and gloves protect against frostbite. Proper footwear should also be considered: boots during snowy times, shoes and socks during more mild weather. “Flip-flops” are never appropriate footwear for school.
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6. Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
Posted by:Cold and flu germs are spread though the air. Covering the mouth and nose can decrease the spread of germs. Teach your student to cough/sneeze into his/ her bent elbow, thus decreasing the amount of germs in the air, and keeping the hands cleaner.
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7. Keep your child home if he/she has a fever.
Posted by:For school purposes, a fever is 100 degrees F. Your child needs to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication prior to returning to school. Even if your child feels better, fevers often return if he/she is sent to school too soon. Keeping your child home will also help limit the spread of disease to other students.
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8. Keep your child home if he/she vomits during the night.
Posted by:As with fevers, vomiting often occurs again if the child is sent to school too soon. Keeping him/her home allows for rest and recovery, and protects other students from exposure.
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9. Follow directions on medication prescribed for your child.
Posted by:If your child has been prescribed antibiotics or eye drops for pink eye, please make sure the medication is completed, even if your child feels or looks better. This medication must be taken in its entirety in order to ensure the condition is resolved. Failure to finish antibiotics may allow the condition to return.
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10. Consider your home environment.
Posted by:Remember the old adage: Children learn what they live. Modeling healthy behavior can help your child learn healthy habits. Children are more likely to adopt healthy behaviors such as good diet, daily exercise, and not smoking when the home environment encourages it. Also, studies have shown that second hand smoke increases the likelihood of respiratory illness in children.
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Seen In The School Health Clinic
In schools, there are several common illnesses that can spread quickly among students. One prevalent illness is the common cold, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose. Another common illness is the flu, which can cause fever, body aches, fatigue, and respiratory symptoms. Additionally, gastrointestinal infections like norovirus or stomach flu can also be common in school settings, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. To prevent the spread of these illnesses, it is crucial for students and staff to practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and staying home when they are unwell.
We've put together some additional information on other common or serious health conditions we encounter among students.
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Bed Bugs
Bed bugs have been an issue in Central Ohio for several years.
Bed bugs are a nuisance, but their bites are not known to spread disease. Bed bugs are usually active at night and feed on human blood. The bite does not hurt at first, but may become swollen and itch, much like a mosquito bite.
Symptoms of exposure include clusters of bites, usually in a line on exposed areas of the body. If you have medical concerns for you or your child, please contact your doctor.
The source of bed bugs often cannot be determined. Bed bugs may be found in many places, including hotels, planes, and movie theaters. They can be found anywhere, not only in “dirty” locations.
It is unlikely for bed bugs to infest a school, but Pickerington Schools inspects as necessary and, if needed, will work with licensed pest control specialists assist with management if needed.
Contact your physician or school nurse for proper care and treatment of bed bug bites.
If you have any questions regarding bed bugs in your home, refer to the Central Ohio Bed Bugs website.
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COVID-19
Prevention of the spread of disease in our school community is an initiative we work on daily in all of Pickerington Schools. We need the help of our students, families and staff to continue in this effort.
We know an outbreak in our region could impact schools, so we are preparing for many what-if scenarios to minimize disruption while keeping students and staff safe. In the meantime, our school nurses are educated on the signs and symptoms of the coronavirus – many of which are similar to the flu. We encourage you to visit the CDC website to learn more about prevention and treatment.
Just as with other illnesses, we are asking you to do your part to help prevent the spread of disease. The CDC recommends these everyday preventive steps:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick. This is worth repeating…please stay home when you’re sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
We are committed to the health and safety of our community and we will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary.
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Diabetes
Students attending the Pickerington Schools who have diabetes mellitus require special attention while at school.
The following are guidelines for the care of a student with diabetes.
The Role of the School Nurse
- To collaborate with school personnel, medical professionals, and family members in order to develop appropriate management procedures.
- To use the information provided to plan and implement interventions and to provide diabetes related education and training to appropriate staff members.
- To complete an individualized health care plan (IHP) and or emergency care plan for each diabetic student. Copies of these plans should be located in the school clinic. The plan contains guidelines for treatment of potential complications such as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, signs and symptoms commonly experienced by the individual and detailed instructions for care in the event of an emergency.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the plan throughout the school year and implement revisions as necessary.
- To provide for the safety of students, by educating and training school staff to assist with routine and emergency diabetic care whenever necessary.
- To facilitate the development of the student’s self-care skills so they will be able to achieve independent diabetes management.
Parent’s Responsibility
- To return the required district medical forms to the school nurse. The forms must be completed and signed by the health care provider directly involved in the management of the student’s diabetes care.
- To provide all diabetic supplies and snacks to be utilized during the school year.
- To work collaboratively with school staff to ensure optimal health and safe care for your child
Student’s Responsibility
- Demonstrate age-appropriate responsibility for self-care while at school.
- Being independent or working towards independence in performing their own diabetes care, such as blood glucose testing and insulin injection, is strongly encouraged. Assistance with these tasks may be provided by the school nurse, health care assistant or other trained non-medical staff on an as-needed basis depending on the student’s age, level of independence and maturity, health care provider’s order, etc.
- Test blood sugar and perform insulin injections in the school clinic unless the health care provider specifically requests an alternative site.
- Dispose of all sharps, such as lancets and needles, in the provided biohazard containers.
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Head Lice
Pickerington Schools operate using no exclusion evidenced-based practice, which means that a student suspected or confirmed to have head lice or nits shall remain in school and is not isolated or otherwise subjected to restrictions of activities.
The student’s parent or guardian shall be informed that their child is suspected of being infested by head lice and will be offered information and guidance on the biology and management of the condition. It is expected that the parent or guardian will provide appropriate treatment for the condition and the student will return to school the next day.
Guidelines for Management of Head Lice and Nits
PLSD operates on a no exclusion evidenced-based practice supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Association of School Nurses.
Reminders to staff and parents or guardians on lice prevention and management will be sent home to families at regular intervals throughout the school year in an effort to sustain a positive attitude toward containment of head lice/nits and discourage head-to-head contact.
When a school staff member is notified by a parent or guardian that a student has lice, the staff member will notify the building school nurse. The school nurse will contact the parent or guardian to provide information about diagnosis and management of lice. The nurse will offer services (if needed) to support the family.
Confidentiality of a student with suspected or confirmed lice or nits will be maintained.
By the end of the school day, the school nurse will notify parents or guardians of students with suspected lice or nits by phone. The student will not be excluded from school and may be transported home by bus.
The school nurse and building principal shall work with the parents and guardians of any student who has been determined to have a chronic infestation of head lice. This will be done through advocating for the education of staff, students, and parents or guardians about head lice and promoting evidenced-based management for students with head lice.
What are head lice?
Head lice are tiny, wingless insects that live close to the human scalp. They feed on blood. The eggs, also called nits, are tiny, tear-drop shaped eggs that attach to the hair shaft. Nits often appear yellowish or white and can look like dandruff but cannot be removed or brushed off. The nymph, or baby louse, is smaller and grow to adult size in one to two weeks. The adult louse is the size of a sesame seed appears tan to grayish-white. An itchy and inflamed scalp is a common symptom of lice. Although not common, persistent scratching may lead to skin irritation and even infection.
Who is affected by head lice?
Head lice are not related to cleanliness. In fact, head lice often infest people with good hygiene and grooming habits. Infestations can occur at home, school or in the community. Head lice are mostly spread by direct head-to-head contact—for example, during play at home or school, slumber parties, sports activities or camp. Less often, lice are spread via objects that have been in recent contact with a person with head lice, such as hats, scarves, hair ribbons, combs, brushes, stuffed animals or bedding.
What to do if an infestation occurs?
If you think your child has head lice, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to discuss the best treatment approach for your family. Resistance to some over-the-counter head lice treatments has been reported, but the prevalence of resistance is not known. There are new prescription treatment options available that are safe and do not require nit combing.
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Pertussis
Pertussis (whooping cough) is a serious respiratory illness spread through face-to-face contact and by being in confined spaces for extended periods of time with those who already have whooping cough. That is part of the reason the illness tends to be transmitted within close-knit student groups, such as athletic teams.
It is not unusual for the district to have cases of whooping cough each year. Some important facts about pertussis:
- Pertussis is most contagious early on, before symptoms become severe.
- Early symptoms can be mild, resembling a mild cough, cold, or allergies.
- Vaccines help protect your child, but do not guarantee that your child will not get pertussis. Everyone’s body is different and protection can decrease over time.
If your child has been exposed and has these symptoms, even if they are mild, please see your doctor for testing. Keep in mind that the classic “whoop” sound, fits of coughing, and vomiting after coughing often don’t appear until later. Also, vaccinated children may have a milder illness due to the protection they have. However, even mild illness is contagious.
What should parents do?
- Keep your child home when they are sick.
- If your child is tested, please keep your child home from school while awaiting results.
- If your child is diagnosed, he/she must stay home for 5 full 24-hour days after starting the antibiotic.
Visit the Franklin County Health Department Infectious Disease Reporting System website for more information about whooping cough (pertussis) and to view the pertussis fact sheet.
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Severe Allergies
Students attending Pickerington Schools who have been diagnosed with potentially life-threatening allergies require special attention while at school.
The district has developed Board Policy 5335,a plan to address food allergies. The guidelines provided in that policy may be adapted in the case of other life threatening allergies such as insect bites, medication reactions and latex allergies.
Role of the School Nurse
- To collaborate with school personnel, health care professionals, students, and family members in order to develop appropriate management procedures
- If requested by parents/guardians, an allergen-free table will be available for use during lunch periods. Parents/guardians should be notified in advance of any in-class events where food will be present.
- On field trips, all food for the food-allergic student should be provided by the parents/guardians.
- To utilize the information provided to plan and implement interventions and to provide allergy and anaphylaxis related education and training to pertinent school staff
- To complete an Individualized Health Care Plan or Food Allergy Action Plan. These plans should be accessible to school staff.
- To provide for the safety of students by educating and training school staff to assist in routine and emergency care whenever necessary. Training to include how to recognize the signs and symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, how to administer epinephrine or other emergency treatment, and calling 911 as soon as possible when an allergic reaction is suspected.
Role of the Parent
- To inform the school nurse of known allergies prior to the school year or with a new diagnosis.
- To return the required medical forms to the School Nurse. Forms must be completed and signed by the healthcare provider in order to administer or self-carry any needed medication.
- To provide a safe alternate snack/treat to be kept in the classroom for their students.
- To work collaboratively with school staff to ensure optimal health and safety for your child.
Role of the Student
The long-term goal for individuals with life threatening allergies is to be independent in the prevention and management of their allergies and allergic reactions based on their developmental level.
- Never share or trade food
- Do not eat anything with unknown ingredients or ingredients known to contain an offending allergen.
- Wash your hands before and after eating.
- Notify an adult if there is suspected allergic exposure.
For additional information, please check the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network or Food Allergy Research and Education website.
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Your child or a young person you know may be at risk of sudden cardiac death due to an inherited condition. He/she will appear healthy and, in most cases, you will have absolutely no idea that something might be wrong. Once diagnosed, these conditions are treatable!
What can you do? A short video clip from Nationwide Children’s Hospital will provide you with some additional information about screening for Sudden Cardiac Arrest. You may want to discuss this topic with your child’s physician. If you answer “Yes” to any of the questions on the form, your child’s doctor should check your child’s heart.
If your child has any of the following warning signs, see your doctor:
- Family history of unexpected, unexplained sudden death in a young person
- Fainting (syncope) or seizure during exercise, excitement or startle
- Consistent or unusual chest pain and/or shortness of breath during exercise
Questions? Our school nurses are also ready to help answer any questions you may have!
Nationwide Children's Hospital Project ADAM Certification
Project ADAM was founded in 1999 in response to the death of 17 year old Wisconsin student Adam Lemel. Adam died while playing high school basketball. His death was caused by Sudden Cardiac Arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation and having an AED on site could have saved his life.
Patty Lemel-Clanton and Joe Lemel, Adam’s parents, partnered with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s Herma Heart Institute to create the Project Adam program to prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths in other children.
Project ADAM helps schools nationwide implement programs to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) readily available by preparing schools for a cardiac emergency through emergency response plans, staff CPR and AED training, student CPR education, and sudden cardiac arrest awareness education.
Pickerington High School Central and Pickerington High School Central were awarded this certificate in May 2021. We are proud of their hard work and dedication to the safety and prevention of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in our student, staff, and community populations.
