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March 2019
Veterans Day |
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Awesome Community.
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Archives
March 2019
Veterans Day |
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Awesome Community.
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Submitted by the Anne Arundel County Department of Health
The start of a new school year brings many questions not only for students but for parents as well. Here are some common questions that parents might have regarding the health and safety of their children when they’re in the classroom. My Child Needs To Take Medication At School. What Procedures Do I Need To Follow? Students are permitted to take medication at school only when it is deemed absolutely necessary, and only under the supervision of school health staff. A form titled “Parent’s Request to Administer Medication At School” must be on file for each medication. No medication can be accepted by health services personnel or allowed to be self-administered under the supervision of health staff without the receipt of the appropriate medication authorization form completed by the student’s guardians and authorized prescriber in its entirety without deletion or alteration. For the safety of students, school health services reserves the right to refuse to accept, administer or supervise self-administration of any medication if these procedures are not followed. What Do I Need To Know About Head Lice? Head lice (pediculosis) are considered a widespread nuisance condition that is common in school-age children. Head lice are not a health hazard or a sign of poor hygiene, and they do not spread any diseases. An average of 500 cases of head lice are found among Anne Arundel County students each year. Children can pick up head lice any place where children freely interact at home, camp, school or on the playground. Lice are spread directly by close personal contact, such as touching heads, or indirectly through contact with an item worn or used by someone with head lice, such as combs, brushes, hats and scarves. Head lice can also spread by using the same bedding, pillows and head rests as someone with head lice. Anne Arundel County has a “no live lice” policy in keeping with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. When students are found to have live lice or nits less than a quarter-inch from the scalp, the parent will be notified. The student can remain in school or day care until the end of the day and must be treated with an over-the-counter or prescription insecticide shampoo before returning. The recommendations are based on studies showing that:
It is important that anyone with lice, along with their close contacts and personal items, be treated at the same time. Check all members of the household and close contacts for head lice and nits. Close contacts, such as people sharing the same bed, should be treated even if no lice or nits are found. Call your doctor if you need to treat a child under the age of 2. Over-the-counter as well as prescription shampoo treatments can be effective. You may wish to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what treatment is best for your family. These shampoos will kill the lice but may not kill all of the nits. You may need to treat again in seven to 10 days. Remove and wash all clothing right away. The medication should be applied while the person is in the bath or shower. Closely follow the directions on the medication. After treatment, dry with a clean towel and put on clean clothing. If you are shampooing several people, rubber gloves should be worn. Getting rid of the nits is the hardest part of the treatment. Use a fine-toothed, metal comb. A hot hair dryer or, if there are no scratches on the scalp, warm white vinegar combed through the hair will help loosen the nits. Pick the nits off the hair shaft with fingers or tweezers. Clean all household and personal items that may harbor lice and nits. Combs and brushes can be washed with the shampoo, soaked in a 2 percent Lysol solution for one hour or washed with hot (125 degrees) soapy water for five to 10 minutes. Stuffed toys or other non-washable items may either be dry-cleaned or placed in tightly-sealed plastic bags in a cool place (below 70 degrees) for 10 days. Towels, bed linens, pillows and clothing should be washed in hot soapy water and dried in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes. A hot iron will also destroy nits. Vacuum rugs, car seats, chairs, sofas and beds; then, throw away the vacuum bag. How To Prevent Getting Head Lice Again It may be necessary to repeat treatment in one week. Call your doctor if treatment isn’t successful after two attempts. Call the parents of your child’s closest friends, your child’s school and those in charge of activities that may involve direct contact such as dancing classes or sports. Others may need to be treated to eliminate head lice and nits. Tell your children not to share caps, combs, brushes and other personal items with their friends. How To Get Your Child Back To School Your child must be free of live lice and all nits close to the scalp (within a quarter-inch from the scalp). Your child must be checked by school health staff before returning to school. Call your school and ask for the school nurse or health assistant. How Do I Know When To Keep My Child Home From School Because Of Illness? Parents should keep their child home from school because of a serious illness, injury or a condition that can be passed on to other children. Although no comprehensive list is possible, the following conditions may be considered appropriate reasons to keep a student home from school. Examples Of Serious Illness Or Injury
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AuthorsOur blog is a shared effort from many staff members of Manor View Elementary School. Archives
March 2019
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