WILDWOOD EARLY



WILDWOOD EARLY

CHILDHOOD CENTER

Winter Health Office newsletter

978-694-6010 Main Office

978-694-6028 Nurse’s office

COLD & FLU SEASON

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Cold and flu season is here! There have seen scattered cases of Strep throat, colds, fevers, vomiting and flu. The Flu season has hit hard and earlier than usual this year. Please keep your child home until they are well enough to return and no longer infectious. Remember, when checking your child’s temperature, body temperature is lowest in the morning. If your child has had a fever (temperature of 100.4 or greater) please keep them home until fever free (without any Tylenol or ibuprofen) for at least 24 hours. Please report any absence illnesses noting specific symptoms i.e. fever, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches, as well as any diagnosis made by MD requiring treatment. Call the school nurse if you are not sure when to return your child to school.

When to keep your child home and when they will require dismissal

* Fever of 100.4 degrees or more

* Vomiting and diarrhea

* Undiagnosed rash

* Conjunctivitis

* Strep throat

* A cold with excessive coughing or congestion

* Flu

* Head Lice

Your child must be fever and symptom free for 24 hour before they may return to school. Any child started on antibiotics must have received the antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school. Flu symptoms are most contagious 24 hrs. before becoming ill and may be spread for 5-7 days.

Here are a few common respiratory infections:

Common Cold: Typically, symptoms are stuffy nose, scratchy throat, sneezing, “sometimes” a slight fever, headache, runny nose, and cough. People usually feel better by day 5, but coughing and nasal drainage may last for 2 weeks.

Strep Throat: Key signs are typically a severe sore throat, fever, difficulty swallowing, sometimes a headache, and/or a stomach ache. This is a serious bacterial infection and requires antibiotic treatment. Cold viruses, not strep, cause the vast majority of sore throats. The only way to diagnose this is to have a culture done. Please see a doctor and do not return to school until 24 hours of treatment has passed, as well as passing of the fever.

Acute Bronchitis: This is an infection of the tubes that connect the throat to the lungs and is usually caused by a virus, though occasionally caused by bacteria. A hallmark of this infection is a cough that produces phlegm may or may not be clear in color.

Influenza: Severe symptoms- Fever (can be very high), tiredness/weakness, severe muscle or joint pain, dry cough, headache, sore throat, runny nose/stuffy nose. Take plenty of fluids, Tylenol, or ibuprofen for fever and plenty of bed rest. Call the doctor to see if treatment is required.

Pneumonia: A key symptom here is coughing. You should see your doctor if the cough is severe, if you have a fever above 102 degrees, significant weakness, and/or if phlegm is bloody, thick, green, brown, or yellow.

February

Dental Health Month

Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease and fortunately it is almost entirely preventable. Childhood dental decay can hinder a student’s ability to learn and accounts for more than 51 million school absences a year!

In February students will have a Dental Presentation offered by myself and a hygienist from Dr. Caselle’s Dental Practice here in Wilmington. Dr. Caselle’s office will also provide learning coloring sheets and a new tooth brush for each student. WPS does not promote or endorse any one practice or the products that are provided to students from this practice.

Healthy Teeth

Simple Steps for Kids’ Smiles

1. Start cleaning teeth early.

As soon as the first tooth appears, begin cleaning by wiping with a clean, damp cloth every day. When more teeth come in, switch to a small, soft toothbrush. Begin using toothpaste with fluoride when the child is 2 years old. Remember to change your toothbrush every three months, when the bristles become worn or frayed and after being sick.

2. Serve age appropriate, healthy snacks.

Offer healthy snacks such as fruit, vegetables, grain product (especially whole grain), and dairy instead of foods high in sugar such as cookies, cake and candy.

3. Supervise brushing.

Brush your child’s teeth twice a day until your child has the skill to handle the toothbrush alone. Then continue to closely watch brushing to make sure the child is doing a thorough job. Use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea). Teach your child to spit out the toothpaste and to rinse well after brushing.

4. Visit the dentist twice a year.

The ADA recommends visiting the dentist for the first time within 6 months of getting their first tooth, and no later than 12 months of age. Early visits help assess jaw and tooth development, check for problems and teach parents how to care for their child’s teeth. By taking your child to the dentist early children learn the importance of oral health care and view visiting the dentist as a positive experience.

“A child must learn to be healthy and be healthy to learn”

With flu season upon us, it is important that we work together to keep our children healthy. Viruses spread easily among children in schools, and families with school-age children have more infections than others, with an average of one-third of these family members infected each year. By keeping our children flu-free, we benefit the community as a whole. You can help prevent the spread of flu or help your child get better if he/she does get sick by following a few simple steps:

• If possible, you and your child should get a flu shot

• Children should be reminded to cough into their sleeve at their elbow. If your child uses a tissue when sneezing or coughing, dispose of the tissue immediately and wash hands to prevent the spread of germs.

• Have your child wash his/her hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds

• Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces and shared items at least once a day

• Ensure that bathrooms are stocked with soap, hand towels and tissues

• Teach your child not to touch his/her mouth, nose and eyes

• If your child is sick and has a fever, keep him/her at home to prevent the spread of illness to others

Hands should be washed:

•        Before you touch food.

•        Before you eat

•        After you use the toilet.

•        After you sneeze or Cough.

When soap and water is not available use a hand sanitizer!

Head Lice:

Head Lice is not a disease, but can be very disruptive to students and families. It does require effort to remove the nits and lice. Notify me immediately if you suspect head lice before sending your child to school. Do not send them to school on the bus. Bring your child directly into my office to be checked. Please discourage sharing of hats, brushes, and hair ornaments.

Please review the Head Lice information link on the Health Services web page.

Recess

The children will be going out daily (weather permitting) for recess. Please dress your child appropriately for the weather. Dressing in layers is best. Please remember boots, hats and gloves. Also, please work with your child on learning to zipper his/her jacket. The staff does encourage and work with the students to become independent in this area.

Recommended Items your Child should bring to School:

▪ Labeled Water Bottle- We discourage the use of water fountains especially during cold and flu season!

▪ Snack and Juice Daily- Please help your child pick healthy snacks on a regular basis.

▪ Labeled Chapstick- if lips are dry/cracked (kept in backpack)

▪ A Change of Clothes – spills, accidents and outdoor recess often result in wet clothing. It is helpful to have a change of clothing appropriate to the weather in your child’s backpack or locker. Some students only have shorts and short sleeve shirts left from the start of the school year in August!

• Holidays:

In accordance with the Wellness Policy and Wilmington Public School Food Allergy Policy only non-food related items will be accepted for Classroom Celebrations.

Please do not send in Valentines with candy attached. They will not be able to be distributed.

Do not send in anything that your child’s teacher has not requested for holiday celebrations. It will be sent home.

Missing Breakfast: Children frequently will visit the health office complaining of headache or stomachache due to missed breakfast. I understand the mornings can be hectic and that buses do come early but having breakfast bars and fruit handy may be a helpful option.

Did you know that eating breakfast:

❖ Can improve speed in short term memory test?

❖ Can improve alertness, mood, & calmness?

❖ Can improve processing brainpower used for complex visual displays such as puzzles?

❖ Can reduce feelings of stress?

Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Busy Families; Planning Ahead:

✓ Plan meals and snack, rather than “eating on the run”. Providing more nutritious meals is easier when you plan ahead.

✓ Avoid skipping meals, especially breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

✓ Plan after school snacks to keep them healthy in content and amount. Many kids tend to overeat during this time of the day.

Interested in becoming a “substitute school nurse”?

Please forward all calls to Doreen Crowe, Nurse Leader of WPS located at the high school.

You can reach her at 978-694-5315 and listen for dialing options/prompts.

Thank you for doing your part in promoting a safe and healthy environment in which students can grow and learn.

Stay healthy, dress for the weather and enjoy the brisk outdoors this winter.

Mrs. Yeomelakis BSN, RN, NCSN

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