In light of the recent news coverage on the H1N1 flu. I have decided to pass along this information from the Center for Disease Control. We have not had any diagnosed cases at this time in St. Clair County.

What to Do If You Get Flu-Like Symptoms
May 4, 2009 7:30 PM ET

Background
The novel H1N1 flu virus is causing illness in infected persons in the United States and countries around the world. CDC expects that illnesses may continue for some time. As a result, you or people around you may become ill. If so, you need to recognize the symptoms and know what to do.

Symptoms
Common symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, diarrhea, and vomiting. The high risk groups for novel H1N1 flu are not known at this time but it’s possible that they may be the same as for seasonal influenza. People at higher risk of serious complications from seasonal flu include people age 65 years and older, children younger than 5 years old, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), and people who are immunosuppressed (e.g., taking immunosuppressive medications, infected with HIV).

Avoid Contact With Others
If you are sick, you may be ill for a week or longer. You should stay home and avoid contact with other persons, except to seek medical care. If you leave the house to seek medical care, wear a mask or cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. In general you should avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness. At the current time, CDC believes that this virus has the same properties in terms of spread as seasonal flu viruses. With seasonal flu, studies have shown that people may be contagious from one day before they develop symptoms to up to 7 days after they get sick. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

Treatment is Available for Those Who Are Seriously III
It is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care.

If you have severe illness or you are at high risk for flu complications, contact your health care provider or seek medical care. Your health care provider will determine whether flu testing or treatment is needed. Be aware that if the flu becomes wide spread, there will be little need to continue testing people, so your health care provider may decide not to test for the flu virus.

Antiviral drugs can be given to treat those who become severely ill with influenza. These antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) with activity against influenza viruses, including H1N1 flu virus. These medications must be prescribed by a health care professional.

There are two influenza antiviral medications that are recommended for use against H1N1 flu. The drugs that are used for treating H1N1 flu are called oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu ®) and zanamivir (Relenza ®). As the H1N1 flu spreads, these antiviral drugs may become in short supply. Therefore, the drugs will be given first to those people who have been hospitalized or are at high risk of complications. The drugs work best if given within 2 days of becoming ill, but may be given later if illness is severe or for those at a high risk for complications.

Emergency Warning Signs
If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

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

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
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
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Protect Yourself, Your Family, and Community
Stay informed. Health officials will provide additional information as it becomes available. Visit the CDC H1N1 Flu website.
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 are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer. Keep away from other household members as much as possible. This is to keep you from infecting others and spreading the virus further.
Learn more about how to take care of someone who is ill in "Taking Care of a Sick Person in Your Home"
Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures.
If you don’t have one yet, consider developing a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of extra food, medicines, and other essential supplies. Further information can be found in the “Flu Planning Checklist”

Guns and Triggers...

At a recent medical attended a medical conference and the speaker talked about chronic diseases.
He stated and I quote: “Genes load the gun and environment pulls the trigger.”

At this point in our lives we can’t control the genetic coding we were given. We often have control over many environmental triggers.

One of my main goals as School Nurse is to increase your awareness of your ability to often control your destiny and the direction of the trajectory of your health. Your choices, physical, mental and emotional and moral choices that ultimately mold your outcome of response of various organs of your body; these choices are just that, your choices.

Like a student that doesn’t study for the test, gathers a few weak grades, and ignores low mid terms….the snowball grows.

A few extra pounds at the holidays, too little sleep night after night, skipping the checkup and cholesterol level year after year, to much to drink at a party, an emotional affair and havoc on a marriage, a divorce…just not taking care of yourself…..the snowball grows.

Choices. Your choices………

Can you stop the trigger from being pulled? Yes, many times over.
There are many diseases we as a society don’t know how to stop; I hope you save your reserves (your banked good health habits) for those diseases (cancers, neurological diseases, accidents, and the flu turn ugly…).

I want you to be aware of the diseases you can control, so you are not finding yourself wondering “if only I had….”

Are you ready if the trigger is pulled and the gun fires? A stroke, a heart attack, diabetes, a knee that needs to be replaced (because of years of obesity), depression unchecked…

Practice unloading the weapon, and taking care of yourself, ask a friend or family to join you.

Laugh, lighten up on the plate, eat an apple, quit smoking, take a walk, go to the dentist, check your blood pressure, get a good night’s sleep, laugh again….don’t regret your choices; and most of all, to enjoy them. 

Caution: Teen Drivers Ahead

As holiday parties are in full swing, it's important to reinforce the rules of the road with your teen. Too often teens drive while under the influence, but that influence extends beyond alcohol. Thirteen percent of high school seniors reported driving under the influence of marijuana, a number nearly equivalent to those who reported drinking and driving (14%).[1]

Talk to your teen about other driver distractions that can impair their driving abilities, like texting and talking on the phone while behind the wheel. In a recent survey, nearly 61% of 16- and 17-year-olds said they send text messages while driving, and 51% reported talking on the phone while driving. [2] Let your teen know that these risky driving behaviors are more likely to cause crashes.

Get the facts on drugged, drunk, and distracted driving:
http://www.theantidrug.com/steerclear/pdfs/DrivingFactSheet.pdf

Driving is a privilege, not a right!

Does your teen understand that driving is a privilege - and it can be revoked at any time? Remind them that they have to earn the right to use their car keys and they will be taken away if they are caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, texting, or talking on the phone while driving.

Set limits and talk to your teen about rules and expectations, and consequences for breaking the rules: http://www.theantidrug.com/advice/eleven.asp

[1] Unpublished estimates derived from U.S. Census Bureau and Monitoring the Future data from O'Malley, Patrick and Johnston, Lloyd, "Unsafe Driving by American High School Seniors, 2001-2006" Journal of Studies on Alcohol and
Drugs, November 2007.

[2] Seventeen Survey: Are you a dangerous driver? Seventeen, August 2007.

Encourage your teen to make smart driving decisions.

1. Set a positive example. Make a commitment to avoid talking or texting while
driving. Remember, you are the most important influence on your teen.

2. Conduct a car check. If you have reason to believe your teen is using drugs
or is engaging in risky behavior, check the car for suspicious packages and/or
drug paraphernalia.

3. Go on a test drive. Ask your teen to take you for a spin and look for signs
of risky driving behaviors, like talking on the phone or playing with the radio.
Take time to reinforce safe driving practices.

More tips for parents of teen drivers:
http://www.theantidrug.com/steerclear/tips.asp

Fight Holiday Weight Gain
It's easy to feel overwhelmed during the holiday season -- what with shopping, parties, decorating, baking, and the inevitable stress of unwanted obligations. But a healthy diet not only helps boost your mood, it also helps you fight holiday weight gain. Try these tips to get through the holiday season in a good mood without gaining weight:

Eat breakfast! If you skip it, what you eat for the rest of the day won't matter, Somer says. Breakfast-eaters report maintaining a better mood and more energy throughout the day, studies show.
Drink water. "The first symptom of dehydration is fatigue," says Somer. If you're dragging your feet, don't dig in the holiday treats you've been baking. Instead, down a glass or two of water; then see if you're still hungry. Not drinking enough water is the first thing that will impact your mood, Kleiner tells WebMD. "Without it, you won't be able to exercise at peak levels, and you won't burn fat as readily.”
Drink nonfat milk. "It has the tryptophan you need for your brain, plus the natural carbohydrate that assists its transport," Kleiner says. "It's also a fabulous energy drink, and an excellent way to rehydrate both before and after exercise."
Hit your usual holiday parties, but avoid alcohol. You may feel relaxed in the short term, but drinking interrupts sleep and increases depression and anxiety -- not the best way to boost your mood.
Lose the bowls of high-fat foods like chocolate, and replace them with small low-fat crackers, popcorn, pretzels, and hard candy.
Fall and winter tend to increase carbohydrate cravings. “Instead of trying to ignore them or reaching for chocolate, cookies or ice cream, plan portion-controlled carb snacks at least once or twice a day, such as 3/4 cup of crunchy cereal,” Wurtman says. They'll help keep your mood even and your waistline small.

The Alabama Certificate of Immunization "blue form" is required for entry into public school. Also, it is required for reentry into the school each fall. Even if your child has been attending school, if the blue form is expired they cannot be allowed to reenter each fall. I will send notification of all "blue forms" that will be expiring now and over the summer. If you recieve a letter notifying you of expiration, you will need to see your doctor, or Public Health Department, for required immunizations, and an updated slip. You must bring this updated slip, prior to school start. Any student not providing the updated information, will not be allowed to pick up their new schedule. All students through grade 8, will have to show proof of having Chicken pox vaccine, having disease, or a titer. This will be shown on the "blue slip" Feel free to call me for any questions.

Dear Parent/Guardians:
According to State and School Policy, I am unable to keep medications, from one school year to the next. Therefore, I must have you pick up medications at the end of the school year. These must be picked up by an adult. Any medications that are not picked up, by the end of school will be destroyed. Thank you for your cooperation.

Welcome Students and Parents:

I am Sharon Owen,RN, the school nurse for MJHS/MHS. My office is located in the Junior High School. I am here full time 7:30-3:30. My office phone number is 640-2044. My email address is Sharon.Owen@sccboe.org. Please feel free to contact me concerning any medical needs your child has a chronic condition such as Diabetes, Asthma, or siezures.

My goal is to keep your student in school so that they may learn. Sometimes children will get sick anyway. The best thing you can do is to keep children home when they are sick. this will stop the spread of illness to other children and teachers.

Please keep your child home when they have any of the following symptoms:
1. Fever of 100.5 or higher. Children should stay home until they have been without fever for at least
24 hours. Children should not be given Tylenol or Advil to reduce the fever and then sent to
school. The child may be highly contagious.
2. Nausea or vomitin within the last 12 hours.
3. Severe headache.
4. Red, watery eyes with yellow drainage.
5. Unexplained rash.
If your child experiences any of these symptoms, at school they will be sent home.

If your child needs medication at school. You must bring in the medication in the original bottle, with a signed medication form. You may find that form on this web site. Just remember if you don't bring the medication and the signed form, then I can't give it.

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