Health

Student Illness Reminder – Calling In Sick

If students are ill and will not be attending school, parents must call the school at 294-6635 by 9:00 a.m. We have begun the process of reporting illnesses to the Linn County Public Health Department on a daily basis for better tracking of diseases in the area. We are asking that when you call your child in as absent due to illness that you report any symptoms or confirmed diagnoses at that time so we can be more accurate in our daily reports. If you have any questions, please call or email Kris Naeve, School Nurse at 294-6635 Ext. 318 or [email protected]

Prescription Medications

Students who need to take prescription or over the counter medications at school need to bring their medication (in the original prescription or over the counter bottle labeled with directions and prescribing health care providers name) to the nurse’s office or the main office. Students should not carry ANY containers with prescription medications with them in the school. Students are allowed to carry their inhalers. Students who need to take medications at school must have a signed consent form on file in the nurse’s office for the staff to administer this medication. This form is available in the Downloads & Links section.

Here are some tips if your student needs to be on prescription medication during the year

1. Ask your health care provider for a medication that does not require a lunch time dose
2. Ask the pharmacy to prepare a “school bottle” that can be left at school

For those students requiring emergency medications such as an Epi-Pen, Glucagon Kit, or Albuterol for nebulizer treatments, those would need to be provided by you to the school along with the same consent form described above.

I look forward to seeing the students again this year and welcome new students. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions or concerns about your student’s health.

Skin Infection Prevention

It’s that time of year again when students are back and participating in various activities. I wanted to send out a few reminders to help protect your children from the possibility of staph infection as they are in activities that they come into contact with each other.

Staphylococcus aureas (known as “staph”) is a common bacterium that is carried on the skin of even healthy people. Around 30% of people carry the staph bacteria and never develop any symptoms. When an infection does occur, it is usually mild. However, there is a chance that the infection could become invasive and that is when we have a more serious threat to their health. Because of the chance of a more serious infection, we want to pass along a few helpful reminders.

1. Students should not share personal items such as towels, bar soap, razors, etc.
2. Students should shower after every athletic activity using soap and clean towels
3. Students should take equipment home daily to disinfect (i.e. protective pads, helmets, etc with disinfecting wipes or spray)
4. Students should wash hands regularly with warm soapy water for 20 seconds frequently
5. Skin cuts or breaks should be kept clean and dry to minimize the chance of developing staph
6. All wounds must be covered

Xavier follows protocols to keep locker rooms, weight room, and the building clean, as they always have. Coaches and Moderators have been stressing the above recommendations to their students also. However, if your student has any suspicious sores or rashes, we recommend immediate follow up with a physician to determine if it is staph infection and getting appropriate treatment.

The following link is for the Iowa Department of Public Health and may help to answer any other questions, but as always, feel free to call or email me with questions or concerns at 294-6635 Ext 318 or [email protected]

http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/common/pdf/abx/mrsa_faq.pdf

Additional Reminders

1. Remember the “C’s” – Clean Hands, Cover Your Cough, Contain Germs
2. If you have not already filled out the Health Registration Form please do so. This information is the best way to make sure we are prepared with any potential health issues for your child at school.