Faculty Home Page

FAVORITE LINKS

http://www.selfgrowth.com Resource of self-help information

http://www.selfinjury.org Self-help for teens who injure themselves

http://www.cdc.gov Center for Disease Control

http://www.helpforteens.net Information about teen drug use and warning signs

http://www.drugabuse.gov Information on teen drug abuse

http://herpes-coldsores.com/support/std_clinics.htm Information on free testing for sexually transmitted diseases

http://www.diabetes.org Put the cursor over "For Parent and Kids" then click on "For Teens." Manage or avoid diabetes with information from this site

http://www.freevibe.com Information, video clips, and links about drug use and its effects.

http://www.charity-charities.org/charities/CT/Hartford.html Links to several helpful organizations. For information on women's issues such as emergency care and housing, click on YWCA, then click on "I Need Help"

HOW TO DECREASE COLDS BY 24%

The US Food and Drug Administration did a study with school children and hand washing. Washing hands at least four times a day decreased days lost from school due to colds by 24% and from stomach upset by 51%. Hand washing should done before eating or touching your eyes, nose or mouth whenever you have been in a public area. This generally means that the moment you come in the door at home, wash your hands. At school or work it becomes more tricky, but you can develop an awareness of the need to wash your hands if you keep in mind that germs live on handles, tables, door frames and other such objects you must touch to get around. Most colds are not caught from germs in the air, but from germs on objects. This is not true of the flu which can be more easily caught from the airborne particles produced by coughing and sneezing.

HEALTH SCREENINGS

Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) requires all sophomores to have a physical done during the 10th grade. Notices and the blue physical form are mailed to parents/guardians of sophomores at the beginning of the school year. Please pick up a blue physical form if you plan to have a physical done during the summer before the start of the sophomore year. The requirements for sports physicals are different. All athletes are required to have a physical within the last 13 months. Sports and regular physical forms are in the front office and the nurse's office.

Health screenings performed by the high school nurse during the academic year are vision and scoliosis for freshmen, and vision and hearing for sophomores. Any student whose results fall outside the Connecticut guidelines will have a referral sent home for follow-up with a doctor. Other screenings such as height and weight or blood pressure can be done by request. Please note that the nurse does screenings, not medical diagnosis. This means the nurse performs first aid and make a recommendations for follow-up by a doctor, but cannot diagnose broken bones, infections, or other illnesses or injuries. I encourage and welcome calls by parents/guardians to consult on the health of their students.

IMMUNIZATIONS
Tetanus boosters are not required for high school students but are recommended by the Center for Disease Control. Td (tetanus and diphtheria) boosters are given about every 10 years and are often given with the 10th grade physical. There are many adults and some students who have not kept up with their boosters. Almost all cases of tenanus, called lockjaw in the past, occur in people who have let their immunization period of protection lapse. This is a very serious disease which used to be common a few generations ago. Most vaccinations are against diseases that are passed person to person. However, tetanus comes from a spore found everywhere in the soil so the risk of getting the disease does not decrease with having most people vaccinated. It results in all the muscles in your body contracting and, if not treated, results in death from not being able to breath. If you've ever had a bad muscle cramp, you've experienced a small part of what this disease can do.

As of the 2005-2006 school year, all students are required to have Hepatitis B immunizations unless they have a religious or medical exemption. If you have any doubt whether this immunization is current, please check with the nurse.

MEDICATIONS

Students who have medications that are taken more than three times a day or must take a dose during school hours may have their medications dispensed by the school nurse. Please pick up a medication form in the front office, have the doctor fill out and sign the top portion and the parent/guardian sign the bottom. The parent/guardian may deliver the medication to the nurse during school hours. There will be no medications dispensed during the summer session. However, if there is a special situation, please call the Board of Education office at 684-4211. The Board will have a nurse call you to make arrangements. There are standing orders for epipen and benadryl in the event of an emergency.

If you know your student has an allergic reaction to a specific allergen, please be sure to supply the school with an epipen and/or Benadryl and a doctor's order. There is no standing order for analgesics such as Tylenol and Motrin for pain, cramps, or headache. If you wish to have an over-the-counter medication available at school, please have the doctor fill out the school medication order form and have the parent/guardian sign the bottom. These forms are in the front office and nurse's office.

Please call the nurse if you have any questions or want to talk at 684-4233, extension 3012.