Health Center
Health Center
IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTES FROM THE NURSE
The control of communicable ("catching") disease during the school year is a difficult problem and a grave responsibility. The first responsibility must fall upon the home as parents know the normal appearance of their children and should be the first to detect signs of illness. The symptoms of a cold are also the symptoms of communicable diseases.
The following rules will help control communicable diseases in the community. Please keep this sheet at a convenient location for reference.
1. Do not send your child if he/she shows signs of illness.
2. Do not send a sick child to school for the nurse to decide whether he/she should be in school. If in doubt, call the family physician.
3. If your child is sick, keep other children away from him/her.
4. Some of the signs and symptoms of acute illness are:
Restlessness at night Diarrhea Fever (oral temp 100.0 or more) Nausea or vomiting
Red-watering eyes Running nose Flushed face or paleness Earache
Sneezing and coughing Headache Rash Swelling neck or face
5. If your child shows any of the above signs, he should be put in a room by himself. If there is any doubt, call the family physician.
6. KEEP HIM/HER HOME UNTIL TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN NORMAL ONE WHOLE DAY.
Any child with an undiagnosed rash should remain out of school until all symptoms are gone or a physician verifies the child is not contagious and is well enough to return to school.
If every parent follows these procedures, it will save much suffering and the spread of contagious diseases, some of which may be life‑threatening.
Don't hesitate to call your physician if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child.
Julie Griffin, School Nurse
623-445-3710