Health Resources / Forms
School Nurse Debbie Cox
301-652-7878 ext. 227
1. HEALTH FORMS
WES Emergency Medical Form REQUIRED EVERY YEAR
Maryland Schools Record of Physical Examination (4-page document)
Maryland Immunization Certificate Form
2. MEDICATION FORMS
Parent Fact Sheet for Medication at School Overview policy.
Permission for Non-Prescription Medication For Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Ibuprofen (Advil), Neosporin/Cortaid/Calamine Lotion, Cough Drops/Throat Lozenges only; form required each year for these OTC drugs. For other OTC drugs a Physician's Medication Authorization for Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication form must be completed and submitted.
Physician's Medication Authorization for Prescription and Non-Prescription Medication For any medication on a regular basis.
Medication Authorization for Emergency Medication - Epipen For allergies.
Physician's Authorization for Medication by Inhaler/Mechanical Device For respiratory conditions.
3. HEALTH TOPICS
CDC School Guidelines for Influenza A, H1N1
Child Passenger Safety
Colds and Flu
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Fifth Disease
Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
Head Lice
Alternative Treatments for Head Lice
Impetigo
Mononucleosis
Pneumonia and Pneumonia Prevention
Scarlet Fever
Staph Infection
Strep Throat
When to keep your child home from school
Child Passenger Safety
Maryland's Child Passenger Safety Law has changed. Every child under 8 years old must ride in a booster seat or other appropriate child safety seat, unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches or taller, or weighs more than 65 pounds. Appropriate child safety seats include:
infant seats
convertible seats
forward-facing seats
booster seats
other Federally approved safety devices
Every child from 8 to 16 years old who is not secured in a car seat must be secured in the vehicle's seat belt. The back seat is the safest. Children under 13 years old should ride in the back seat.
If your child isn't using a booster, try this simple test the next time you ride together in the car.
The 5-Step Test
1. Does the child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do the child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safely in the car. Kids like boosters because they are more comfortable, too!
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Colds and Flu
Colds and flu can strike any time, but especially in the winter. Illnesses spread quickly in the classroom setting; below is a link for a good summary from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services/Food and Drug Administration titled “What to Do for Colds and Flu.” Among other information it contains helpful interventions to help you and your child/children avoid catching these diseases. http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/clds&flu.html.
Also, here is a link to information from the State of Maryland: http://www.dhmh.state.md.us/diseases/pdf/InfluenzaFactSheet_20090225.pdf
Especially during the flu and cold season, if your child is not feeling well, it is best for you to keep him/her at home if you can. We do appreciate your consideration as we all try to keep common illnesses from spreading. As a reminder, if your child has had a fever higher than 99.9° F he/she should be kept at home for 24 hours from the time the fever breaks. If your child vomits more than once in a 24 hour period he/she should be kept at home for 24 hours from the last episode.
Our students do go outside for recess unless the temperature drops below 26° F so it is important that our students wear proper outerwear each school day.
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Conjunctivitis
To prevent the spread of conjunctivitis commonly known as "pink eye" - a contagious eye infection - good hand washing techniques are essential.
The main modes of transmission of conjunctivitis are hand to eye contact or touching a surface contaminated by the hand after it comes in contact with an infected eye. Emphasize washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds especially prior to meals, when hands are soiled, if a person is rubbing his/her eyes a lot, and finally, after using the bathroom. To facilitate hand washing for the full 20 seconds (recommended by the Centers for Disease Control) count 1 - 20 Mississippi's or sing the first verse of "Happy Birthday."
For additional information on conjunctivitis please read the following article: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/infections/eye/conjunctivitis.html.
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Fifth Disease
According to the CDC, Fifth Disease is a mild rash illness that occurs most commonly in children. The ill child typically has a “slapped-cheek" rash on the face and may have a lacy red rash on the trunk and limbs, a low-grade fever, or a “cold” a few days before the rash breaks out. The child is usually not very ill, and the rash resolves in 7 -10 days.
Fifth Disease is caused by the parvovirus B19. This virus infects only humans and can be spread by respiratory secretions (e.g., saliva, sputum, or nasal mucus) of the infected person before the onset of the rash. Do not share drinking cups or utensils, and frequent hand washing helps control the spread of this disease.
Treatment of symptoms such as fever, pain, or itching is usually all that is needed. Occasionally, serious complications may develop from Fifth Disease during pregnancy. For details, see the CDC information sheet entitled, “Parvovirus B19 Infection and Pregnancy.” http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/B19&preg.htm
Please monitor your child for the above symptoms and if present, have him/her seen by your pediatrician. For additional information please reviewed the following websites and call your pediatrician if you have any questions. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/respiratory/parvo_b19.htm
http://children.webmd.com/tc/fifth-disease-topic-overview
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Gastroenteritis
What is viral gastroenteritis?
Gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and small and large intestines. Viral gastroenteritis is an infection caused by a variety of viruses that results in vomiting or diarrhea. It is often called the "stomach flu," although it is not caused by the influenza flu viruses.
The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. The affected person may also have headache, fever, and abdominal cramps ("stomach ache"). In general, the symptoms begin 1 to 2 days following infection with a virus that causes gastroenteritis and may last for 1 to 10 days, depending on which virus causes the illness.
Most infections that cause diarrhea, especially viral infections, will go away without treatment. Taking it easy at home and drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration are the best ways to ride out the illness. If you do become dehydrated, you might need to go to the hospital for intravenous (IV) fluids to replace those lost to diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
If you end up visiting your doctor, you may need to give a stool sample so he or she can find out what type of infection you have. Whether you need medicine will depend on which germ is causing the illness. You'll feel better if you stay well hydrated, so drink lots of water. In addition to fluid that is lost during bouts of diarrhea, electrolytes (sodium and potassium) are also lost and need to be replaced because the body cannot function properly without them. Try sipping broth or soup, which contain sodium, and 100% fruit juice (with no added sugar), which contains potassium. When you feel ready to eat something more substantial, try soft fruits or vegetables, which also contain potassium. Avoid milk products and fatty, high-fiber, or very sweet foods until the diarrhea subsides, and don't drink sports drinks or soft drinks — although they contain electrolytes, their high sugar content may aggravate diarrhea. Click on the following links for more information:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/revb/gastro/faq.htm
http://www.drreddy.com/gastro.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/intestinal/diarrhea.html
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Head Lice
Head Lice infestation is common in the United States in children 3 to 12 years of age. There are approximately 6 to 12 million cases each year. According to the American
