Welcome to the School Nurse Page!!
This page is for providing parents with information regarding student health. If you have any questions or concerns about your child, please email or call the nurse's office directly - you can leave voice mail any time of the day: 320-963-7482.
H1N1 VACCINE update: The Wellness on Wheels (WOW) van now also has vaccine for people who do not have a home clinic - for more information on getting the H1N1 vaccine at the WOW van, please call 763-682-7717.
Influenza Update at Maple Lake: Both schools have seen a large decrease in students with cases of "Influenza-Like Illness". Many physicians and clinics were presuming that patients had H1N1 influenza (without testing) and are recommending care based on that (see links below). We continue with our efforts to have students wash hands frequently as well as cover coughs and sneezes. Having ill people stay home is a priority so we are requesting that everyone please follow the "24 hour rule" before returning to school after having a fever (see information below).
I continue to receive updates from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). The most consistent messages that have come out have been regarding preventing the spread of the virus - these are all things we should be doing anyway to help control the spread of all diseases. The recommendations are:
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WASH YOUR HANDS often with soap and water.
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STAY HOME from school, work and events when you are sick.
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COVER your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
STAY HOME OR GO TO SCHOOL??? SEE SCREENING TOOL BELOW IN "FILE SECTION"
Students who are ill with a fever over 100 degrees (without fever-reducing medication) AND also a sore throat OR a cough, should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone (again, without the aid of a fever-reducing medicine!). Please also remember that students need to feel well enough to participate in classes - even if the fever is gone, they may still not be well enough to come to school!!
Parents - please think ahead to how your family will handle a lengthy illness! Many people with influenza are very sick for 5-7 days.....can you miss work to care for your ill family members?? Do you have a daycare "back up" if your daycare person needs to close due to illness?? Just a few things to think about and plan ahead for!
In my "links" section below, you will find links to the websites of MDH and the CDC for more information. These websites are the BEST place to find the most official, up-to-date information on influenza!!
Parents - I need your HELP in the upcoming year:
#1 - Cough drops are NOT provided by the school - if a student needs something to suck on during the day, parents need to supply cough drops and a note that gives the child permission to have them at school. The nurse is not able to supply over 1,000 students with cough drops or mints and we need your help with this as many students are expecting this service.
#2 - Please send a spare change of clothes (shirt, pants, underwear and socks) for students in all grades kindergarten through six! Students have accidents of all kinds in all grades -- recess, bathroom and cafeteria events can all result in soiled clothing. We don't have room to keep sizes for all of the students who need spare clothes. If students get wet at recess or lunch and do not have their own spare clothes, they will remain in the wet clothes for the rest of the day. If a student has a bathroom "accident", I will try to find pants, but I have a very limited supply of pants in sizes that fit kids who typically need spares for this reason - kids need to keep a set in their locker at all times.
Thank you for making sure your child is equipped with extras!!!
BE ALERT for HEAD LICE
Treatment instructions can be downloaded below...
Every year, there are active cases of head lice reported after the holidays, attending camps, sleepovers, family reunions, etc. Please check heads frequently at home, at least twice each week - this is a parent responsibility! If you do discover lice or nits (lice eggs) in your child's hair, please use products without pesticides in them - use hair gel or a product called "Lice Freee!" - it can be found in the pharmacy sections of major stores and pharmacies (you do NOT need a prescription for it). These have been the most effective products in recent years - traditional lice shampoos with pesticides have NOT been working for families that have used them!!!!! ALL nits (eggs) MUST be removed in order for the treatment to be complete. Please contact the nurse if your child has been treated for lice before coming to school - all students need to be checked before returning to school after having had a treatment.
If your child does have lice, please notify friends and family that have been in close contact with your child(ren) in the past month and could possibly have it. If they didn't know they have it, they will appreciate the phone call so they can take care of it! This step is VERY important because if you don't let others know you are dealing with it, your child could get it back again!!!!!! If your child has been away at camp, please call to let the camp staff know you are dealing with lice.
CHECK BEFORE AND FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER ATTENDING CAMPS AND SLEEPOVERS!!!
How can I prevent Head Lice??? No sharing of hats, combs, brushes, hair scrunchies or clips, pillows/blankets/sleeping bags. Avoid sleep-overs, (or check heads before and right after)!! Girls should wear their long hair UP IN PONY TAILS OR BRAIDS!! Long hair is more susceptible to lice if it is dangling around, touching other hair. Lice do not jump - they crawl - so if hair touches someone or something with lice, it can spread. Hair that is up and close to the head has less of a chance to "bump into" someone with lice.
Remember - no one intentionally spreads lice - they just don't know they have it. If you check frequently, you can prevent it from getting too bad and prevent the spread to others. If you spread it to others without telling them, you have a greater chance of getting it back, so be sure to alert other parents if you know your child has lice. It is not a reflection of your hygeine practices - anyone can get head lice!!!!!
FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO TREAT HEAD LICE, PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE FILE THAT IS INCLUDED.
A reminder about Maple Lake's Medication Policy: ALL medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, need to have both physician's and parent's approval if it will be given by the nurse. Medication needs to be supplied by the parents in the original bottle. Forms are available from the nurse's office and can also be downloaded below.
Washing hands frequently is a HUGE part of staying healthy - please encourage your children to wash after using the bathroom and before eating. Covering coughs and sneezes with the arm or sleeve is better than covering with a hand. Role model these things for your children so they get into the habit and stay well this year.
Fight those germs! WASH YOUR HANDS!
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