CPR Class Offered for the Community
An American Red Cross Adult/Child CPR class will be offered on March 25th from 5:30-7 at Decatur High School in the media center. Nurses from the School Health Program will be the instructors. The class will be offered at no charge unless the participant wants a certification card. The fee for the card is $6.40. The class will be available to the first 16 who register. To register please contact Sally Dobbins at either 404-370-4480 or sdobbins@csdecatur.net.
Flu Prevention Reminders:
 Frequent and thorough handwashingCover coughs and sneezes
Stay home from work or school when sick
Get your vaccine!
Forms:
Healthy Children Learn Better
The School Health Program, a partnership between the school system and DeKalb Medical Foundation, provides 5 nurses for the district’s six schools and the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC). Three nurses cover the 4 elementary schools and the ECLC, where the nurse is on site at each school 2 1/2 days per week and is on call for each of the assigned schools during the school day. The weekly schedule for the assigned nurse is posted in the schooloffice. Renfroe Middle School and Decatur High School each have a nurse on site every day. The nurses, in collaboration with families and health care providers may:
- provide nurse triage for health issues occurring during the school day
- provide and manage care for children with chronic conditions (asthma, diabetes, allergies) while at school
- assist families in linking with health care provider as needed
- provide health education for students and staff
- serveas health resource for staff
- coordinate health screenings (vision, hearing, scoliosis) and follow-up
- serveas health liaison between families, the school, and the health care provider
Each student should have a health information form on file with the nurse in the clinic. Depending on the school your student attends, the health form will be received with the summer mailing from the school or will come home with your student during the first week of school. The forms need tobe updated every year and returned to the school nurse as soon as possible during the first 2 weeks of school. Also, if your child has special healthneeds (allergies, asthma, diabetes, seizures) contact the nurse to inform her of the needs and usual plan of care during those first 2 weeks of schools or any time when there is a change in the plan of care.
For more information about the School Health Program or school nurses call 404-370-4420 ext. 157, your local school or contact us by email
Update for Families: Staying Healthy As School Starts
Since the spring we have heard many news reports about the influenza A H1N1 virus (H1N1 flu), also known as “Swine Flu” making its way into the United States.Although confirmed cases continue to grow throughout the country, the current data indicates that the severity of illness caused by this virus is NOT increasing.
Aswith seasonal flu, colds or any infectious disease, simple prevention measures provide the best protection for staying healthy. These simple measures include: frequent and thorough handwashing, cover mouth/nose with tissue or crook of arm (not hand) when coughing or sneezing, stay home fromwork or school when sick, maintain healthy habits such as drinking plenty of fluids, getting plenty of rest, exercising, eating lots of fruits and vegetables,and getting the flu vaccine
However,we do want to share some basic information with you about H1N1 flu, how City Schools of Decatur is preparing and responding, and what you can do to protect your family’s health.
Whatis H1N1 flu?
H1N1 flu (Swine Flu) is a respiratory illness that is caused by a Type A influenza virus. H1N1 is a new strain of flu that is a mix of swine, human and bird viruses. You cannot get H1N1 flu from eating pork or pork products.
What are the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu?
The signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to regular flu. Symptoms appear quickly, likely including dry cough, fever (sometimes over 102 degrees), stuffy nose, chills, extreme tiredness and body aches. Some people have reported symptoms of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea with H1N1 flu, which are not common symptoms of more common influenza.
What should I do if my child has signs or symptoms of influenza?
If your child gets a fever or flu-like symptoms, it is important that he/shestays home, rests and drinks plenty of fluids. Please do not give childrenfever-reducing medication and send them to school. The medication wears offand fevers and aches return. Never give aspirin to children or teens that havefever and/or flu-like symptoms because this can cause a rare, serious illnesscalled Reye syndrome. Thorough hand washing with soap and water is the bestprevention, in addition to the flu vaccine.
What is CSD doing to prevent the spread of influenza?
All schools encourage staff and students to practice good hygiene, including proper hand washing techniques. We encourage students to use hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol content in situations where hand washing facilities arenot immediately available. The CDC also provides information on how to get immunization against influenza and H1N1 flu.
We will continue to make families aware of the impact of influenza on our school environments. Awareness and prevention are the best means of helping our community stay healthy.
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