Flu Prevention

Dear Parents/Guardians,

As the flu season is quickly approaching we at Bloomfield School want you to know that we are working diligently to ensure the health of our staff and students. We are monitoring the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Flu.Gov websites daily. We are also staying in contact in contact with the Stoddard County Public Health Center among other resources in our community. Knowledge is power.

Here are a few things we are doing in our school system:

*Pandemic Flu Policy created
*Stoddard County Health Center Asst. Director educated our staff on the flu and flu prevention
*Collaborating with the local Health Department and established points of contact
*Communication with parents through school blogs pages, letters home etc.
*In the process of installing hand sanitizer pumps throughout the hallways in each building along with the cafeteria and gym
*We are teaching our student flu prevention habits such as:
-washing our hands
-avoid touching your nose/mouth (if using a kleenex, dispose of it immediately)
-coughing or sneezing into the crook of your arm
*Keeping our bathrooms stocked with soap and paper towels
*Keeping alcohol based sanitizers in each room when soap is not available
*Regularly cleaning and disinfecting bathrooms, cafeterias, doorknobs, keyboards etc.

Here are a few things you can do at home:

*Don't Panic
*Be sure your phone/work numbers are current
*Reinforce flu prevention habits at home such as those listed above
*If your child is displaying flu like symptoms, keep them home for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever without the use of fever reducing medicines. This assists in keeping their viruses to themselves rather than sharing with others.
*Consider vaccinations for your family

Thank you for helping us keep your children healthy. We will continue to monitor and keep you informed as the year goes on. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: vwilliams@bps14.org or call 568-4562.

Sincerely,

Vicki Williams, RN
Bloomfield R-14 School Nurse

First Week Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As the new school year gets underway it is time to send you some tips and updates of the school year and what's going on in the nurse's office.

First I want to thank all the parents/guardians for getting their students physicals, vision exams, and immunizations in to our office.

We still have a few students who are in need of their 10 year booster. I will be re-submitting letters soon.

Also as the first full week comes to an end I have already begun to see ill students. I spoke with a pediatric nurse (Nurse Brandi Rocks!!) along with the Stoddard County Public Health Center (you too Amy!!) and have been informed that there are two issues they have seen.

1. Strep Throat

2. A virus that begins with a severe headache that leads to high fevers that are lasting 6-7 days.

As we are preparing to keep our students healthy in the upcoming year I am going to post some tips on how to stop germs.


How Germs Spread

The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread."
This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.

How to Stop the Spread of Germs

In a nutshell: take care to
• Cover your mouth and nose
• Clean your hands often
• Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too

Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

The "Happy Birthday" song helps keep your hands clean?
Not exactly. Yet we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice!

Alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers work too

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

If your child is sick please keep them home.

Your child must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medications in order to return to school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at: vwilliams@bps14.org

Thank you for helping me keep our children healthy!

Registration - August 7th

Welcome Back Wildcats!

We will be hosting campus wide registration on August 7th. If you have received notice in the mail from me regarding updating your child's immunizations; please bring proof that it has been completed or your child will not be allowed to begin the school year.

You will have the opportunity on this date to bring in medications and address any medical issues and/or concerns.

We are looking forward to another great school year!