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Rockport Public Schools Health Services |
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General Health Topics Q & ASick/Absent FAQ: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
When should I keep my child home from school? 1-A child with vomiting or diarrrhea should be kept home for at least 24 hours after the symptoms have resolved. 2-A child with a fever of 100 degrees F or above, or a fever that produces chills, muscle aches, sore throat, or sweating should remain at home until 24 hours after the fever has resolved. 3-Strep Throat, Conjunctivitis and Impetigo require 24 hours of medication before a student can return to school. 4-Head Lice requires treatment and removal of all nits before a child can return to school. The parent and child MUST CHECK IN WITH THE NURSING OFFICE before going to class. 5-Chickenpox cases must stay home until all lesions are scabbed over-approx. 7 days from the last eruption. 6-A child with a rash or skin condition that is undiagnoses by a physician should remain in school. If signs of active lice/nits are detected on your child, we will send the child home. We will need to see the PARENT AND CHILD in the school nursing office after treatment. The nurse will perform a quick (5 minute)head check prior to entry to the classroom. Confidentiality of the infected person is maintained, but it's important to notify the teachers so we can properly clean the classrooms. PLEASE SEE the nurses for a new, over the counter treatment (Cetaphil cleanser) Do you have any information on Backpacks? *****Backpack Information***** The issue: The familiar sight of students carrying backpacks stuffed with textbooks, supplies, lunches, winter clothes and more is becoming a major health concern in schools. The spine is made of 33 bones called Vertebrae. Between the vertebrae are disks that act as natural shock absorbers. When a backpack is too heavy, the child arches the back or leans the head and trunk forward to compensate for the weight of the bag. This stresses the muscles in the back and neck, and increases the risk of muscle fatigue and injury. When you choose the right backpack, look for the following: 1-Wide, padded shoulder straps 2-Two Shoulder straps 3-Padded back 4-Waist Strap 5-Light backpack 6-Rolling backpack-particularly if the student is smaller, or for students who carry a heavy load. I am feeling really tired and sleep deprived. What can I do? We see lots of tired students in the office. We really need to take care of ourselves. Here are some tips to help you (hopefully): 1-Try to get to bed at the same time each night. 2-Try to get out of bed at the same time each morning. 3-Try to exercise 20-30 minutes each day. 4-Avoid caffeine: soda, tea, coffee and chocolate. Diet pills also have caffeine. 5-Avoid nicotine. Smokers tend to sleep lightly and wake up due to nicotine withdrawal. 6-Avoid alcohol. Alcohol limits deep and REM sleep. Your brain needs this type of sleep to unwind. 7-Relax before going to bed. Take a good book with you. 8-Wake up with the sun; but at times, this is not possible. Use bright lights in the morning to reset your biological clock. 9-Don't lie in bed awake. try to listen to music, read or watch TV until you are tired. 10-Make sure the temperature in your bedroom is comfortable. If you are constantly having problems sleeping, see your Doctor or Nurse Practitioner. It's so important to sleep well each night.
Are you taking care of your teeth? Is your breath in need of mints? Are your teeth yellow? Do you smoke? Are you prone to cavities? We really need to take care of our teeth. Our teeth need to last throughout our entire lives. Rockport Public Schools understand the importance of dental hygiene. Students need to brush and floss teeth regularly. HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU 1-All health classes will be receiving toothbrushes during the month of February. 2-Brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes. This will help kill the bacteria. These bacteruim cause acid which destroy our teeth. 4-Brush your teeth after meals. Bacteria use sugar from foods. If you can't brush, try to wash down food with water. Sugarless gum can also help to stimulate saliva. This saliva helps to break down bacteria. This will also help to freshen your breath. 5-Don't brush your teeth with a lot of pressure. This increased pressure can cause receding gums and sensitive teeth. 6-Cut out the morning coffee. This coffee will stain your teeth. Coffee also provides a constant source of sugar. 7-Stop smoking. Smoke will yellow those "pearly whites". 8-VIsit your Dentist every 6 months, or as often as your Dentist suggests. It is very important to have your teeth clean and your breath fresh. We have seen some injuries to teeth in our office. In the US, more than 5 milion teeth have been knocked out last year. Almost 60% of these injuries occur in UNORGANIZED sports. MOUTHGUARDS can also help guard the jaw and the brain against a concussion after the injury. Sports where a mouth injury can occur include: football, soccer, basketball, softball, volleyball and wrestling. A great website is: www.colgatebsbf.com/parents/ and www.aapd.org/pediatricinformation/brochurelist.asp Are you having headaches and feeling tired in the afternoon? How many of you are drinking enough water each day? This lack of water can lead us to feel tired and have headaches. This is especially true during the early afternoon hours. This is why we encourage a few glasses of water when you visit the nursing office for a headache. We also encourage students to carry a CLEAR water bottle with you. Keep a water bottle in the locker, and refill as needed. Do you have any resources on Tobacco Use and Cessation? Tobacco Use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, killing more than 400,000 people each year. This total is more than the number of deaths caused by AIDS, alchohol, drug abuse, car crashes, murders, suicides, and fires combined, according to the Centers for Disease COntrol. The good news is that people can successfully break the smoking habit. All it takes is a firm decision to quit, along with some hard work, persistence, and the right kind of support. HEALTH RISKS OF USING TOBACCO A number of health and safety risks are associated with smoking, including: -Increased rish of fire, injury, and automobile crashes -Upper respiratory diseases like colds, flu, sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia -Heart disease -Lung cancer -Lymphomas -Emphysema -Mouth and throat cancers -Stroke WHY QUIT? -Your chances of a heart attack decreases -Your ability to smell and taste is enhanced. -Your lungs work better and breathing becomes easier -Your blood circulation improves -Your rish for lung cancer decreases -New healthy cells replace pre-cancerous cells HOW TO QUIT -Prepare for success. A positive mindset can help you follow through on your plans -Decide on a timeframe in which you will quit -Substitute one or two new healthier habits to replace smoking. Nibble on fresh fruit or veggies when the urge to smoke comes on. Go for a walk or a job when the urge gets too great. -Try nicotine replacement therapy -Find a support group to help you through the hard times. TIP: BE SURE TO EXERCISE AND EAT A HEALTHY DIET SO YOU DON'T GAIN WEIGHT DURING THE QUITTING PROCESS QUITTING SMOKING: HOW TO CHANGE Smoking is a behavior that is learned over a period of time. After a while, it can become linked with other activities such as drinking coffee, talking on the phone, driving in the car, or eating a meal. These other activities become triggers, events that have tight connections to the urge to smoke. Changing these triggers can help you to manage to quit smoking. Three ways to manage smoking triggers include: AVOID THE SITUATION: If you smoke with your coffee, then don't drink coffee. Have your juice or something different CHANGE THE SITUATION: Sit in the nonsmoking section at the restaurant/cafe. SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CIGARETTE: Keep something in your free hand when you are on the phone: a pen, a small toy, a photo. EXAMPLES OF OTHER TRIGGER BREAKERS INCLUDE: -Distract yourself from urges to smoke. Talk to someone, go for a walk, or get busy with a task -Change your routine. Use a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. Eat breakfast in a different place. -Do something to reduce your stress. Take a hot bath, exercise, or read a book -Plan somehting enjoyalbe to do every day -Drink a lot of water and other fluids TOBACCO: ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE :(ETS) You don't have to smoke to be at risk for the hazards caused by tobacco use. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or secondhand smoke contains hundreds of dangerous substances that kill 60,000 Americans each year and cause cancer and other health problems. WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT ETS: -Do not smoke in your home or permit others to do so -Ask anyone who smokes to go outside -If someone smokes in the house, open the windows or use an exhaust fan to increase ventilation -Keep children away from anyone who smokes -Support smoking bans in your community -If smoking is allowed at restaurants in your area, frequent those that do NOT allow it on their premises or at least ask to be seated in the non- smoking sections. SOME RESOURCES: MASSACHUSETTS SMOKER'S QUITLINE 1-800-879-8678 www.trytostop.org MASSACHUSEETTS TOBACCO CONTROL PROGRAM 1-800-624-5900 www.state.ma.us/dph/mtcp CDC OFFICE ON SMOKING,TOBACCO,and HEALTH 1-800-232-1311 www.cdc.gov/tobacco NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE 1-800-4-CANCER www.nci.nih.gov Do you have any tips for safe winter fun? Avoid Frostbite: Dress warmly and set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Pedestrian Safety: Keep slippery driveways and sidewalks well shoveled. Apply material for traction such as rock salt to avoid slips and falls. Dress children in bright colors (not white) clothing in snowy weather. Snow skiing: Enroll in at least one lesson, and never ski alone. Use caution around lifts, control your speed and be aware of other skiers. Wear eye and sun protection. Ski helmets are also recommended. Do you have any information on safety while skating/ice fishing? Each winter, many residents are injured from exposure in cold water incidents. Skaters and ice fishermen fall through the ice: boaters and canoeists overturn their crafts. HOW THICK IN SAFE ICE? Ice on moving water in rivers, streams and brooks is NEVER safe. THe thickness of ice on ponds and lakes depends upon water currents or springs, depth and natural objects such as tree stumps or rocks. Daily changes in temperature cause the ice to expand and contract, which affects it's strength. Because of these factors, no one can declare the ice to be absolutely "SAFE". WHAT DO YOU DO IF SOMEONE FALLS THROUGH THE ICE? 1-Act quickly and call 911 for help immediately 2-DO NOT go out onto the ice. 3-Reach, Throw or Row: Extend a branch, pole or ladder to the victim. Throw them a bouyant object such as a life ring or float tied to a rope. If a boat is nearby, row out to the victim or push it out towards them. Do you have any information on safety around the holidays? Tree Safety -Never use candles as decorations -Keep tree away from heat -Never leave a lit tree unattended -Dispose of your tree properly, soon after the holiday before the needles dry out -Artificial trees should have a fire retardant label -Use a "non-tip" type of stand Keep the season bright-Watch the lights! -Unplug all lighting before retiring for the evening or leaving the house -Blow out all the candles before leaving the room. Don't leave candles burning unattended. -Purchase lights and electric decorations which are approved by a testing agency (such as UL) -Check all lighting for frayed wires, broken plugs, sockets, etc -Never overload outlets. Use no more than 3 strands of lights on a single extension cord -Never hang lights on a metallic tree -Always use appropriate weather proof lights outdoors.
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