Living In Las Cruces- Spring/Summer 2008

EDUCATION

By Charlotte Tallman

The Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) knows questions about "how sick is too sick" are difficult to answer, so they offer what help they can in guiding parents by providing recommendations and policies as well as school nurses at each school, but ultimately parents need to be affirmative in their actions.

"We really rely on the parents to talk with us about the student that is ill," says Beverly Hine, R.N., Director of Health Services/Medicaid for LCPS. Hine encourages parents to talk to the school nurse before bringing a child in to school if there are questions on how sick they are, or better yet, visit the nurse's office with the child for more information on staying home, or even the need to visit the doctor.

"While we want them to be in school, there are days when they just aren't well enough to be there," Hine says. The district recommends students be kept home for a variety of reasons, including diarrhea and severe coughing. “With those kinds of things, they just don't need to be in school. They are miserable."

Along with keeping sick kids home, Hine says there are steps to keep kids healthy that every parent can take - with a strong focus on hand washing.

"They are bringing things to and from school, and we really need to teach these kids how to wash their hands," Hine says. "More germs are spread from surface to mouth and from hand to mouth than from coughing."

When washing hands, kids (and adults) should use soap and water, washing between fingers and especially thumbs (which are often forgotten). Friction is essential, so constant rubbing is important. Hine recommends singing The Alphabet Song as they wash, which encourages enough wash time.

In an effort to work with parents on keeping children healthy, LCPS has a wide variety of recommendations on their website, as well as health information for parents ranging from topics like chicken pox to nausea and vomiting. The website, and the child's school, also has information on dispensing medications to children if they need to take some while in school.

WHEN SHOULD A CHILD STAY HOME?*

1. DIARRHEA (more than one abnormally loose stool) If a child has only one loose stool, observe the child for additional loose stools or other symptoms. Be sure that the child and care providers wash their hands at all recommended times.

2. SEVERE COUGHING
The child gets red or blue in the face or makes high-pitched "croupy" or "whooping" sounds after coughing.

3. LABORED OR RAPID BREATHING

4. YELLOWISH TINT TO THE SKIN (JAUNDICE)

5. TEARING, IRRITATION AND REDNESS OF EYELID lining followed by swelling and discharge of pus (conjunctivitis, also called “pink eye�)

6. VOMITING

* If your child has any of the following symptoms accompanied by a fever
of greater than 100 degrees, they should remain at home or, if your child
is already at school, you will be called to pick up your child.

7. SORE THROAT OR DIFFICULTY IN SWALLOWING

8. UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR (crankiness, listlessness, crying more than usual, obvious general discomfort)

9. SEVERE ITCHING OF BODY OR SCALP or constant scratching of the scalp

10. HEADACHE AND STIFF NECK

*Courtesy of the Las Cruces Public Schools, found online at www.lcps.k12.nm.us Visit www.lcps.k12.nm.us for policies and recommendations, or call your child's school to speak to the school nurse.