Woodland Hills School District

WELCOME TO SHAFFER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

My name is Janice Walter, RN, BS, MHED,CSN. I am the Certified School Nurse assigned to:

Shaffer Primary
I can be reached at:
Shaffer Primary: 412-371-4535 ext 2250
by email at waltja@whsd.net

Help Us Take Care of Your Child

Please call the nurse's office or send us a note to let us know of any change in your child's health or medication. Be sure to let us know of any significant health problems such as surgery, illnesses, allergies, diabetes, seizures, asthma, heart or lung problems, ADD/ADHD, psychological problems, trouble eating or going to the bathroom, etc. We want to take good care of your child but can't do it without your help!
Please keep us up to date on your new work and home telephone numbers . It is essential that we have correct information on file when an emergency or illness occurs.

Please call with any concerns or questions you may have about your child's health care in school!

As the Certified School Nurse I will:

Provide basic first aid
Evaluate students for illness
Administer prescriptions and over the counter medications with written permission from the child's physician and the parent/guardian
Work with parents and teachers to ensure that the health needs of our students are met
Implement the Allegheny Health Department and Pennsylvania State immunization policy and maintain student's health records
Conduct Pennsylvania mandated school health screenings
Provide health and wellness information and education for parents/guardians and school faculty and staff
Attend ESAP and IEP meetings

JUST A REMINDER FOR THE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR:

KINDERGARTEN: Per Pennsylvania State Law all students should have the following paperwork

Up-to-date immunization record (see requirements below)
Physician Physical examination form
Dental examination form
To obtain the required forms click on the Standard Health forms link below.

THIRD GRADE: Per Pennsylvania State Law all students in the 3rd grade should have:

Dental examination form completed

SIXTH GRADE: Per Pennsylvania State Law all students in the 6th grade are required to have:

6th Grade Physical form completed

All students in grades K-12 must now have per the Allegheny Health Department the following immunization: varicella #2 or proof of disease.

Students who have not submitted the required immunizations to their school nurse in writing are considered to be enrolled in school provisionally until April 2009. After April, any student who has not supplied the school nurse with required immunizations in writing, the student will be excluded until requirements are met. Please call your school nurse to check the status of your child's immunizations.

4 doses of tetanus ( 1 dose after the fourth birthday)
4 doses of diphtheria (1 dose after the fourth birthday)
3 doses of polio
2 doses of measles
2 doses of mumps
1 dose of rubella
3 doses of hepatitis B
2 doses of varicella or written statement from physician indicating month & year of disease or serologic proof of immunity

In addition all students entering Grades 7-12 must have

1 dose of tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap)

1 dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)

STANDARD HEALTH FORMS for download

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH LINK

INFLUENZA INFORMATION: PREVENTION IS KEY TO PREVENT ILLNESS!

THE KEY TO CONTROLLING THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE DUE TO INFLUENZA OR OTHER RESPIRATORY PATHOGENS, IS IMPLEMENTING AND PRACTICING GOOD INFECTION CONTROL.

REMIND YOUR CHILD TO:

USE GOOD COUGH AND SNEEZING ETIQUETTE:

COVER YOUR NOSE AND MOUTH WITH A TISSUE WHEN COUGHING OR SNEEZING-THROW THE TISSUE AWAY AFTER USE.
OR COUGH INTO YOUR SLEEVE
WASH HANDS OFTEN WITH SOAP AND WATER, ESPECIALLY AFTER COUGHING OR SNEEZING.
IF WATER IS NOT NEAR, USE AN ALCOHOL-BASED HAND CLEANER.
AVOID TOUCHING THE" T ZONE": EYES NOSE OR MOUTH. GERMS OFTEN SPREAD THIS WAY!

USE GOOD HAND WASHING TECHNIQUES:

USE SOAP AND WATER TO WASH HANDS WHEN HANDS ARE VISIBLY SOILED, OR USE AN ALCOHOL-BASED HAND CLEANER WHEN SOAP IS NOT AVAILABLE.
WASH HANDS FOR 15-20 SECONDS (LONG ENOUGH FOR CHILDREN TO SING "THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG" OR "ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT" )
ALCOHOL-BASED HAND CLEANER CAN BE USED BUT AVOID USING IT ON SENSITIVE SKIN.
CHILDREN SHOULD BE SUPERVISED BY AN ADULT WHEN USING HAND CLEANERS.
RUB HANDS THOROUGHLY UNTIL THE ALCOHOL HAS DRIVED

WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL?

YOUR CHILD WILL PROBABLY NEED TO STAY HOME WHEN HE OR SHE:

HAS A FEVER HIGHER THAN 100 OR MORE
IS VOMITING WITHIN THE LAST 24 HOUR PERIOD PRIOR TO SCHOOL
HAS DIARRHEA WITH THE LAST 24 HOURS PRIOR TO SCHOOL
IS IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT FOR PINK EYE OR STREP THROAT

WHEN CAN MY CHILD RETURN TO SCHOOL?

YOUR CHILD MAY RETURN TO SCHOOL WHEN HE OR SHE:

IS FEVER FREE without medications, e.g. tylenol, motrin
CAN EAT AND DRINK NORMALLY
IS RESTED AND ALERT ENOUGH TO PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS
HAS COMPLETED ANY PERIOD OF DOCTOR-RECOMMENDED ISOLATION

IF FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS OCCUR: FEVER 100 OR MORE, SORE THROAT,CHILLS, MUSCLE ACHES, COUGH, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA - CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.

VIRAL RESPIRATORY ILLNESS:

If your child has a viral Upper Respiratory Illness, which is another term for the COMMON COLD, the virus is contagious during the first few days. It is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing or by direct contact (touching your sick child then touching eyes, nose or mouth.

FREQUENT HAND WASHING WILL DECREASE RISK OF SPREADING.

Most Viral illnesses resolve within 7-14 days with rest and simple home remedies. However, they may sometimes last up to four weeks. ANTIBIOTICS WILL NOT KILL A VIRUS and are generally not prescribed for this condition.

HOME CARE:

1. FLUIDS: FEVER INCREASES WATER LOSS FROM THE BODY. FOR CHILDREN OVER 1 YEAR OLD, GIVE PLENTY OF FLUIDS LIKE: WATER, JUICE, 7-UP, ginger ale, lemonade or Popsicles.

2. Eating: If your child doesn't want to eat solid foods, it's okay for a few days as long as he/she is drinking fluids.

3. Rest: Keep children with a fever at home resting quietly until the fever is gone-usually 24 hours.

4. Sleep: Periods are sleeplessness and irritability are common. Elevate the head of the bed for congestions.

5. Cough: Coughing is a normal part of this illness. If it becomes severe, then a cough suppressant such as Robitussin DM for children over 2 years old. Don't let anyone smoke around your child. Tobacco can make the cough worse.

6. Nasal Congestion: Saline nose drops are available without prescription.

7. Fever: Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for fever, fussiness or discomfort. In infants over six months of age, you may use ibuprofen. NEVER USE ASPIRIN!

CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUR:

--Fever that reaches 105 F rectal or 104 oral

--Fever remains over 102 F rectal or 101 F oral for three days

ALWAYS FOLLOW UP AS DIRECTED BY YOUR DOCTOR.

* Taken from Follow up instructions from CHP.

WISHING YOU AND YOUR CHILD A HEALTHY AND SAFE 2009-10 SCHOOL YEAR!