Author: Admin

February 2009

Nurse’s Notes

Is It a Cold or the Flu?

Your child is sent home from school with a sore throat, cough, and high fever-could it be the flu that’s been going around? Or is it just a common cold?
Typically, the flu (also known as influenza) has symptoms that make a child feel worse than symptoms associated with a common cold, but it’s not always that easy to tell the difference between the two.
To help determine whether your child’s fighting the flu or combating a cold, review the questions on the right.
If most of your answers fell into the first category, chances are that your child has the flu. If your answers usually belonged in the second category, it’s most likely a cold.
The important thing to remember is that flu symptoms can vary from child to child, so if you suspect the flu, call the doctor. Even doctors often need a test to tell them for sure if your child has the flu or not since the symptoms can be so similar!
Some bacterial diseases, like strep throat or pneumonia, can also look like the flu or a cold. It’s important to get medical attention immediately if your child seems to be getting worse, is having any trouble breathing, has a high fever, has a bad headache, has a sore throat, or seems confused.
Most of the time, you can take care of your child by offering plenty of fluids, rest, and extra comfort.
(from kidshealth.org)

February is American Heart Month

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2009, an estimated 785,000 Americans will have a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 will have a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.
The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Physical activity in your daily life is an important step to preventing heart disease. Many people make it harder than it is. It is important to remember that it is the overall pattern of the choices you make that counts.
Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and getting help immediately are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack.
(from www.cdc.gov)

Questions	Flu	Cold
Was your child’s onset of illness...	Sudden?	Slow?
Does your child have a ...	High fever?	No (or mild) fever?
Is your child’s exhaustion level...	Severe?	Mild?
Is your child’s head ...	Achy?	Headache-free?
Is your child’s appetite ...	Decreased?	Normal?
Are your child’s muscles ...	Achy?	Fine?
Does your child have ...	Chills?	No chills?

Heart Attack Signs & Symptoms
Chest discomfort
Discomfort in other areas of upper body including arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach
Shortness of breath, may occur with or without chest discomfort
Breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, and this year celebrates its 60th anniversary. Healthy teeth
enable children to speak properly, eat healthy food, and build self-esteem and confidence. Although tooth decay is
preventable, not enough children get early preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends that children have a dental exam by their first birthday; however, more than half of Iowa's general dentists do not see children younger than age 3. In addition, more than half of all Medicaid-enrolled children in Iowa received no dental care in 2007. The Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) I-Smile program is working to prevent disease, help families get dental care, and create awareness of the importance of children's oral health.
To learn more about how I-Smile is making a positive impact on children's oral health in Iowa, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/hpcdp/oral_health_ismile.asp.

Sara Sprouse, RN, BSN

School Nurse
Van Buren Community Schools
503 Henry St.
Keosauqua, IA 52565

Phone:
Douds-641-936-4321
Keo-319-293-3183
Stockport-319-796-4414
E-mail: sara.sprouse@gpaea.k12.ia.us

See how much your child knows about participating in physical activity for a healthy heart. Circle the letter next to each correct answer.

Which of the following is an aerobic activity?
Bicycling
Fishing
Racing your sister to the telephone
How much total time in a day do you need to participate in aerobic activity to keep your heart healthy?
At least 5 minutes
At least 30 minutes
At least 2 hours
How many times each week should you do an aerobic activity to have a healthy heart?
At least 7
At least 1
At least 4
Before you do a physical activity, you should
Take your pulse.
Warm up.
Blow your nose.
Physical activity does which of the following?
Improves your breathing.
Makes the blood rush to your head.
Makes your hair grow faster.
A good activity for strengthening your leg muscles is
Push-ups
Curl-ups
Climbing

Which is the best reason for choosing a physical activity?
All your friends do it.
You enjoy doing it.
You might become a professional and make a lot of money doing it.
Which of these household chores is also an aerobic activity?
Cleaning your room
Washing the dishes
Mowing the lawn

Answers: 1.A, 2.B, 3.A, 4.B, 5 A, 6.C, 7.B, 8. C

What’s Your Child’s Activity I.Q.? (from American Heart Association)

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.

Notes From The Nurse

This story can fit 150-200 words.
One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
While your main goal of distributing a newsletter might be to sell your product or service, the key to a successful newsletter is making it useful to your readers.
A great way to add useful content to your newsletter is to develop and write your own articles, or include a calendar of upcoming events or a special offer that promotes a new product.
You can also research articles or find “filler” articles by accessing the World Wide Web. You can write about a variety of topics but try to keep your articles short.
Much of the content you put in your newsletter can also be used for your Web site. Microsoft Publisher offers a simple way to convert your newsletter to a Web publication. So, when you’re finished writing your newsletter, convert it to a Web site and post it.

This story can fit 100-150 words.
The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
If the newsletter is distributed internally, you might comment upon new procedures or improvements to the business. Sales figures or earnings will show how your business is growing.
Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.