Health Tips and Links

Tips from Nurse Lisa

Hello everyone,

I would like to share some health tips and a few facts with you.  These tips and facts might answer a few questions you might have.

          First of all the H1N1 vaccine does not replace the seasonal flu vaccine.  They should be used together. 

          The single most important method to preventing spread of ANY germ is good hand washing.  I don't just mean sticking the hands under the water and rinsing them off.  The hands must be washed with soap and water by rubbing them together to get lather for at least fifteen seconds before rinsing the soap off the hands.  If in a place where soap and water are not available, Germ-x is acceptable.  Keep a travel size Germ-x in your car, pocket, or purse at all times. 

          We have all been taught to cover our mouth and nose with our hands when we sneeze or cough.  If you are close to a box of Kleenex or tissue continue this habit of covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze.  If you do not have Kleenex or tissue cover your mouth and nose by simply bending your elbow over your mouth and nose and cough or sneeze into the bend of your arm. 

          Tylenol and Ibuprofen are good fever fighters but they do not remove the infection. It is very important in preventing the spread of germs to remain at home until there is NO fever for 24 hours without taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen.  Do not give children or teenagers Aspirin, because Aspirin my cause them to have Reye's Syndrome.      

          Normal temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and fever is a temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

          With any fever or sickness appetite is usually decreased and dehydration can occur.  It is important to drink plenty of fluids such as water, Gatorade, Jell-o, and broth.

          Flu is a virus and is spread by droplets transferred by coughing and sneezing.  Keep any hard surfaces such as tables, countertops, doorknobs, and telephones, cleaned frequently.  A good cleaning agent to use is Clorox wipes.

          I will be sharing tips and information with you periodically throughout the year so stay tuned to the web site.               

                                                                   Lisa Lindsey, RN
                                                                   School Nurse

Swine Flu Fact Sheet
What are the symptoms of swine flu in humans?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human
seasonal influenza and include:

Fever
Lack of appetite
Runny Nose
Nausea
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Coughing
Sore Throat
Vomiting

How does swine flu spread?

1. Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs.
    

2. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur hen people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs.
    

3. Human-to-human transmission of swine flu can also occur by coughing or sneezing of people infected with the influenza virus.
    

4. People may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.  Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Get plenty of sleep.

• Be physically active.

• Manage your stress.

• Drink plenty of fluids.

• Eat nutritious food.
   

Try not to touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.  (We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.  Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.)

Can people catch swine flu from eating pork?

NO!

1. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.

2. You can not get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products.  Eating properly handled and cooked pork or pork products are safe.

3. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160° F kills swine flu virus as it does other bacteria and viruses.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where swing influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea you may want to contact their health care provided, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms.  Your health car provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.

If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.

If you become ill and experience any of the following warnings signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing

• Bluish skin color

• Not drinking enough fluids

• Not waking up or not interacting

• Being so irritable that the child does no want to be held

• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough 

• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen

• Sudden dizziness

• Confusion

• Sever or persistent vomiting

Tips about those pesky little critters that like to live on the scalp - LICE.

1.     First of all, lice are not a sign of uncleanliness.  They love clean hair because it is easier for them to latch on to.

2.     Lice DO NOT hop, jump, or fly; the only way they can get from one person to another is direct touching or head-to-head.

3.     Removing the nits (eggs) and live lice with a special metal-tooth comb is time-consuming but the most effective way to get rid of them.  They do not wash out. 

4.     Head lice products are pesticides, which are toxic if overused and can be absorbed through the skin.  Follow the directions carefully. 

5.     Because of use and overuse of head lice shampoos, head lice have become resistant to the products that once would kill them, so no head lice product is 100% effective, even if you follow the directions exactly as instructed.  That is why combing and nit removal is important.

6.     With live lice there is a rash on the back of the neck just below the hair line.  These are the bite marks they leave behind.

7.     Head lice are not a source of infection or disease.  They are simply a nuisance.

8.     Schools are not the most common places where head lice are spread.  Sleep-overs among friends and relatives are thought to be a common way they are passed from home to home.  

9.     School-wide head checks are not recommended or endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control.  The most effective screening occurs when parents check their children at home, treat if any are found, and make efforts to remove the nits.

10.   It is important to teach the children never to share combs or brushes,  barrettes, or ponytail holders.  They should never share caps or hats or  furry collared coats. 

11.  Most lice shampoos instruct to use initially and then again in 7-10 days.  It  is very important to follow these instructions.  One should not do the  second treatment before the seventh day or after the tenth day.

12.   There are things to be done in the house to eliminate the lice from there.    All bed linen, pillows, blankets, throws, stuffed animals, and clothes  should be washed in hot water and dried in a dryer.  Anything that can be  washed in hot water and dried in the dryer should be washed and dried.   Things that cannot be washed in washing machine such as pillows from  couch should be sealed in a garbage bag for 3-4 weeks to kill any that may  have gotten on them. 

13.  The floors need to be vacuumed. 

14.  Parents, please check your child's hair at least twice a week.  I think this  will go a long way in keeping them out of the home and the school.

15.   If one person in a family has head lice then it is always a good thing to check everyone in that family and give lice treatment on their hair if  needed. 

16.  Sometimes it may seem difficult to distinguish between nit and dandruff.  If  it is a nit then it will not fall off the hair shaft when the hair is moved.

 More tips to come later.

Thanks,
Lisa Lindsey, RN
School Nurse

Have you been diagnosed with a Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA infection?
Below are answers to some common questions.....

What is Staphylococcus aureus or Staph?

Staph is a type of bacteria.  It may cause skin infections that look like pimples or boils.  Skin infections caused by Staph may be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage.  Some Staph (know as Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA) are resistant to certain antibiotics, making it harder to treat.  The information on this page applies to both Staph and MRSA.

Who gets Staph infections?

Anyone can get a Staph infection.  People are more likely to get a Staph infection if they have:

•  Skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a Staph infection

• Contact with items and surfaces that have Staph on them

• Openings in their skin such as cuts or scrapes

• Crowded living conditions

• Poor hygiene

How serious are Staph infections?

Most Staph skin infections are minor and may be easily treated.  Staph also may cause more serious infections, such as infections of the bloodstream, surgical sites, or pneumonia.  Sometimes, a Staph infection that starts as skin infection may worsen.  It is important to contact your doctor if your infection does not get better.

How are Staph infections treated?

Treatment of Staph skin infection may include taking an antibiotic or having a doctor drain the infection. If you are given an antibiotic, be sure to take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it.  Do not share antibiotics with other people or save them to use later.

How do I keep Staph infections from spreading?

• Wash your hands often or  use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Keep your cuts and scrapes clean and cover them with bandages

• Do not touch other people's cuts or bandages

• Do not share personal items like towels or razors
  If you have questions about your condition, please ask your doctor.  For more information, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html.

Additional Website links:

www.nmhs.net
www.cdc.gov
www.healthyms.com
www.pandemicflu.gov