September 2012

SCHOOL HEALTH

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A new school year is already here!! Let’s get off to a healthy start. Eating healthy foods, staying active, and establishing healthy habits are great ways to a happy, healthy school year. Inside this issue there will be information on healthy snacks, easy to do activities to stay active, and stay healthy life habits. Also, there will some information provided on how to prevent and identify the cold and flu and how to deal with head lice.

Have a great year!

Shannon L. Hamp

District School Nurse

Issue #1, September 2012

What’s Inside?

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What’s new

Upcoming events

Healthy Snacks

Keeping Active

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new” Albert Einstein

Healthy Habits 4

Head Lice 5 Welcome!

September 2012

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A District School Nurse

Hello, my name is Shannon Hamp. I moved here in July 2011 from Morgan City, LA. I have been a Registered Nurse for 10 years. Most of my experience is in Critical Care, but I am having a wonderful time working with all the children and staff ensuring they stay healthy while at school.

I travel to all the schools within the district, but I am based at Houghtaling Elementary. If there are any changes in your child’s health please let your school

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know so we can adequately manage your child’s health while at school. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at 228-2054.

What’s New for 2012-2013?

New Medication Authorization Form

For the 2012-2013 school year, there will be a new medication authorization form. There will be a form for prescribed and over-the-counter medication, with a new option to allow the student to carry their own medication.

The medication authorization form must be signed by a parent/guardian for this to be allowed.

Reminders and Upcoming Events Don’t Forget: New to District, Kindergarteners, and 7th graders need TB tests. Please contact your healthcare provider or the Public Health Department to schedule an appointment.

Shot Records need to be Up-to-Date!!! No Shots, No School!

Elementary Schools: Hearing and Vision Screenings. Grades to be tested PK, K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th.

* Fawn Mtn - September 17th-21st * TSAS- September 24th-28th *KCS - October 1st-5th *Pt Higgins- October 8th-12th *Houghtaling- October 15th-19th

We will be utilizing the Vision Screener from the Ketchikan Lion’s Club.

September 2012

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Ways to Snack Healthy and Stay Active

Healthy Snacks Cheese Peanut Butter Healthy muffins (zucchini, carrot, or banana) Whole grain cereal (try yogurt covered with dried fruit) Quesadillas (cheese, veggies, chicken, or beans) Yogurt (with fruit and granola) Eggs (hard-boiled, or scrambled in whole wheat tortilla) Sweet Potato (make homemade potato chips) Hummus (on sandwiches or with veggies) Noodles (with veggies and pasta sauce) Pears (canned or fresh) Smoothies (with fresh or frozen fruit) Snack Mix (nuts, pretzels, dried fruit, popcorn) Low-fat ham Raisins Apples Whole grain waffles (with cream cheese and jelly) Strawberries Tomatoes Oatmeal : see recipe below Applesauce Oatmeal Cookies 1/3 c. softened butter 2/3 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. applesauce 1 ¼ c. flour 1 ¼ c. rolled oats 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 egg In a bowl beat butter till creamy. Add brown sugar and baking soda. Stir until combined. Mix in applesauce and egg. Add flour a little at a time. Stir in oats. Drop dough onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned.

Tip: Add dried cranberries or raisins for a healthy, sweet addition.

Ways to stay active

Preschoolers:

Help encourage the development of their motor skills by kicking, throwing a ball, playing tag or follow the leader, hopping on one foot, riding a trike or bike, freeze dancing, or running a homemade obstacle course.

School-Age:

Encourage time outside and away from the TV and video games. This might include sports like basketball or soccer, biking, hiking, jump rope, or just playing outside with friends.

Teenagers:

Traditional school sports, after school activities such as yoga, biking, hiking, or just going for a walk.

It is important to remember that not all children are born athletes. Remain positive and encourage any physical activity on a daily basis, even if it isn’t a team sport.

Make it a fun family experience! If you are active your kids will be more likely to participate.

September 2012

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Consectetuer:

September 2012

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Head Lice 101

THE BASICS

♦ DO NOT PANIC! Head lice are not an emergency and, in most cases, do not pose any health risk.

However, misuse of pesticides and use of unlabeled treatments (ex: kerosene) can pose a health risk.

♦ Head lice CANNOT live off a human host for more

than 24-48 hours. Head lice CANNOT live on pets. Head lice CANNOT reproduce in carpets, furniture,

or other household furnishings.

♦ PESTICIDE SPRAYS DO LITTLE OR NOTHING TO CONTROL LICE. NEVER

treat your home, car, furniture, beds, pillows, or clothing with pesticides (e.g. ‘lice bombs,’ flea bombs,

sprays, etc.) in an attempt to control head lice. You will expose yourself and your family to unnecessary

pesticide risk.

♦ Head lice are very common among people of all socio-economic groups. More than 12 million people, mostly children and school personnel, get head lice

per year.

♦ Direct head-to-head contact with an infested person is the main way head lice are transmitted, but they may also be transmitted by sharing hats, scarves, headphones, combs, and other hair accessories.

♦ If a lice shampoo is warranted, ask your doctor or

pharmacist for specifics on the product and follow all label instructions exactly. Misapplications can be

ineffective and dangerous.

LICE CANNOT HOP, JUMP OR FLY, BUT THEY CAN CRAWL RAPIDLY.

10 TIPS FOR

Treatment 1. Use a medicine that your health care provider or pharmacist recommends. After treatment,

removal of nits is necessary. 2. For nit removal, work in a well lit area or use a

flashlight or hand lens. 3. Use a grooming comb or hairbrush to remove

tangles. A hair detangle spray or other hair conditioner may aid in this process.

4. Divide the hair into sections and fasten off the hair that is not being worked on.

5. Use a lice comb to detect and remove lice and nits. Or manually remove by pinching the nit and

pulling it off the hair shaft. 6. Go through hair sections from the scalp to the

end of the hair. Nits are usually found close to the scalp.

7. Dip the comb in a cup of hot, soapy water or use tape to remove lice, nits, or debris from comb.

8. Move on to the next section until the entire scalp and all hair has been checked.

9. Screen the person every day for 10 days and regularly thereafter.

10. If additional nits (at least 3-5 per day) are discovered, another manual search is

recommended. 11. Please be sure to notify the school nurse if

you treat your child. Students must be checked by school nurse before returning to school after

treatment.

YOU CANNOT COMPLETELY CONTROL HEAD LICE WITH LICE SHAMPOO ALONE.

YOU MUST COMBINE LICE SHAMPOO

TREATMENT WITH MANUAL REMOVAL.

Share a toy, share a slide, share the feelings deep inside. But never share a hat or comb, or lice could make your

head their home!

September 2012

How to Avoid a Hair Raising Experience with Head Lice

A child cannot “catch nits”. Nits (lice eggs) can only be

laid by live lice.

• Watch for signs of head lice. Frequent head itching or complaints of itchy head/scalp are common signs. Red bite marks or scratch marks may be seen behind the ears, back of neck and scalp. Check your children every few days if head lice are reported at their school. Lice are easier to eliminate if caught early. • Teach your children not to share hats, headgear, scarves, headphones, and grooming items (combs, hairbrushes, etc.) and to avoid direct head-to-head contact. • To kill lice on bedding, clothes, etc., wash and dry them as you would ordinarily. NEVER add any pesticide. Vacuum materials that cannot be washed.

• If you are concerned about head lice on carpets or furniture, vacuum them thoroughly or wipe smooth surfaces with a damp cloth. • Place items that cannot be washed or dried, such as stuffed animals, in a tightly sealed plastic trash bag for 10 days. NEVER spray items with a pesticide. • To kill lice on brushes, combs, or hair accessories, wash them with hot, soapy water. NEVER spray them with a pesticide. • Your child may be temporarily excluded from school, but this helps avoid widespread lead lice outbreaks.

Head Lice Treatments and Where to Find Them

Island Pharmacy

RID Kit – pesticidal Separate metal combs approved by Public Health

Safeway Pharmacy

RID shampoo

NIX – pesticidal LiceMD – pesticide free, advertises to kill lice and eggs.

Pronto spray

Walmart Pharmacy

RID kit and shampoo only NIX

Equate kit and shampoo only

No product is recommended or endorsed by the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District