Health Services

Nurse’s Notes

Taking Precautions to prevent Lyme disease

The Warm Weather is here and many outdoors events are coming up!!!!

Here is Some Information on What Lyme disease is and precautions to take to minimize exposure to this illness:

Lyme disease is a bacteria which is transmitted to humans through tick bites.

This disease is spread quickly due to a variety of factors:

• Pets and wildlife that run though fields and woodlands can bring ticks back to suburban locations.
• Wooden areas where people live or spend leisure time.

Precautions you can take to minimize exposure to Lyme disease include:

• Clothing tucked into shoes during outside woodland activities (i.e. hiking)
• Tick repellent products used when areas of bushes and grass.
• Carefully examine your body for ticks when appropriate after outdoor events, including your pets.

Symptoms of Lyme disease range depending on the stage of the disease which can include: fever, fatigue, chills, headaches, stiff neck, muscle aches, pain and a distinct rash.

How to Remove a Tick:

• Use a tweezers to remove the tick.
• Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible using tweezers
• Remove the tick with a steady pull away from the skin. Do not yank or twist the tick which may break of its mouth parts. If you have broken off the mouth parts under your skin, consult your physician
• Take Precautions not to crush or puncture the body of the tick.  Do no get any fluids from the tick on you (if you do, wash with rubbing alcohol and then soap and water immediately.)
• After removing the tick, cleanse your skin with rubbing alcohol and then wash with soap and water immediately.

Further information is available in the Health Services Office.

Enjoy the Nice Weather!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When Should You Keep Your Child Home From School?

1. Your child has a temp. of 100 degrees or higher or has had a fever in the past 24 hours.
2. Your child has had diarrhea within the last 24 hours.
3. Your child has been vomiting within the last 24 hours.
4. Your child has a rash of unknown origin.
5. Your child has red, runny eyes or wakes up with eyes “glued” shut. This may be conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and must be evaluated by a physician before returning to school. If it is conjunctivitis, the student must be on antibiotics 24 hours before returning to school.
6. Your child complains of ear pain, with or without fever.
7. Your child has an uncontrollable cough or purulent discharge from the nose.
8. Your child has had a positive strep test. Student may return to school 24 hours after antibiotic treatment has begun. Student must be fever free.

Your child may return to school when:

1. He/she is fever free for 24 hours, without the use of Tylenol or other fever reducers.
2. Your child is free of nausea/diarrhea for 24 hours.
3. You have consulted your physician and the child is taking the appropriate antibiotic therapy or other care for at least 24 hours.
4. Cough/nasal secretions are controlled.

Your child should look and behave like him/herself for at least 24 hours before returning to school. This protects your child from exposure to more infection before he/she is able to build resistance and also to protect other children and school staff from any communicable disease that your child may transmit.

REMEMBER: Hand washing is the most effective means of preventing the spread of illness!!

Reminder: Medications (both prescription and over the counter) are not allowed to be given in school without a doctor’s order.