W.B. Simpson Elementary

MEDICATIONS

Just a reminder: If a child requires medicine to be given in school, a parent must request in writing that the medicine be given, and it must be in the original container with the dosage directions on the label. Twice a day medicines should be given at home, with doses spaced as close to 12 hours apart as possible. Three times a day medicines should be given at home in the morning, after school, and at bedtime. If it is not possible for the medicine to be given after school, it will be administered at 2:00 in school. Medicine that is not in the original container (such as a plastic bag) cannot be administered in school.

CONTACTING PARENTS

Please make sure the school has accurate phone numbers so we can reach you or someone else to pick up your child if they are ill. Please remember to send in new work numbers if you change jobs. Also, remember to inform the nurse of any surgery or serious illness that your child might have that causes them to miss school for a lengthy time. Thank you.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL

1. Temperature over 100 degrees in the last 12-24 hours. If you suspect that they may be sick please check their temperature with a thermometer before sending them to school. If they have a fever it is not appropriate to send them to school, even if you give them Tylenol and their fever breaks. They will still be contagious to other children and will also not be feeling well enough to learn.

2. Vomiting or diarrhea in the last 12-24 hours.

3. An unexplained rash.

4. Earache.

5. Red or crusty eyelids or drainage from eyes.

6. Headache, cough, sore throat, or congestion severe enough to interfere with attention to school work.

7. Flare-ups of asthma, that would make it difficult to work in school.

COLD AND FLU SEASON TIPS

Here are some tips to help you make it through the cold and flu season. Also remember that it is common to get 7-12 colds per year, so you and your child are not alone in your suffering!

HOW TO KEEP FROM GETTING SICK:

You cannot catch a cold by going outside in the cold weather with wet hair or by not being dressed appropriately! That is an old myth which is not based on facts. Colds are spread by viruses, not bad weather. The reason you may catch more colds in the fall and winter is because you’re spending more time indoors and have greater exposure to people who are infected.

TIP: Wash your hands frequently, get your rest, and eat a balanced diet. Don’t touch your face after contact with a sick person, as that helps the germs get near your mucus membranes (mouth, nose, eyes) and gives the germs a way to enter your body. Also, don’t share drinking or eating utensils.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU GET SICK:

Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Take over the counter medications to help treat symptoms, see below.

Some new prescription drugs can shorten symptoms caused by viruses, but must be taken in the first 24 hours of developing symptoms.

Check with your school nurse about your school’s policy about when to keep a child home from school.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR:

Any prolonged or severe symptoms including: severe sore throat with a fever, persistent cough (especially if your child has asthma), fever over 102 degrees, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, a cough that produces bloody, thick green or brown phlegm.

ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT ALWAYS THE BEST TREATMENT:

Antibiotics have no effect on cold viruses. In fact, they often encourage vomiting and diarrhea, which are the last thing your child needs. Unnecessary use of antibiotics also helps breed more resistant bacteria, so the antibiotics may not work as well when your child really needs them.

Never pressure health care workers to prescribe a “quick fix” antibiotic.

When antibiotics are prescribed, you should take the correct dosage for the entire period of time. Call your doctor if you develop any rash or hives.

Never take anyone else’s medication.

Cold And Flu Medication Types

Although there is no cure for a cold, various treatments can provide comfort. The following list of different types of cold medication and what they do may help you make good choices.

Decongestants: Decongestants help to un-stuff the nose and decrease postnasal drip. Their main advantage is that they don’t make you sleepy. But sometimes these medications can make young children hyperactive.

Antihistamines: During the latter stages of a cold, antihistamines can dry the nose too much and cause the mucus to thicken. This may encourage and prolong an ear infection. Younger children may become excessively sleepy or hyperactive from antihistamines. Using a small dose may decrease these side effects.

Expectorants: Expectorants help to make mucus looser so it can be coughed out easier. The first dose or two may actually make the cough sound worse, as the child is now able to get rid of the built up mucus. Expectorants are most helpful for a chest cold or during the latter stages of a cold. Expectorants’ bad taste is hard to mask.

Cough suppressants: Since a cough helps keep draining mucus out of the lungs, you don’t want to totally suppress a cough. A younger child should rarely get sleepy or hyperactive from these medications.

Pain and fever reducers: A child produces a fever to help fight off an infection, but if your child is achy and uncomfortable, one of these medications may help. If you give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin), check any other cold preparations you are also giving to make sure these aren’t already included so that you don’t give too much.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics have no effect on cold viruses. In fact, they often encourage vomiting and diarrhea, which are the last things your child needs. Unnecessary use of antibiotics also helps breed more resistant bacteria, so the antibiotics may not work as well when your child really needs them.

Hearing and Vision Screening

All students new to public school in Delaware and all second and fourth graders will be screened in the fall of the school year. If a student fails the screening a note will be sent home recommending that you take your child for further testing. Please call the nurse at 697-4975 if your child is referred for follow up and you have difficulty accessing services due to lack of insurance coverage or any other barriers. Community resources may be available to assist with both an eye exam and the cost of glasses.