2nd Flu Shot now due!!

Okay Parents - if your child got a flu shot on November 13th, 2007 and they were 8 years old or younger and it was the "FIRST" time getting the shot - they are now due for their 2nd booster shot. You can get the shot at your doctor's office, Brown County Health, or Day County Health.

If you have any questions - please give me a call at 397-2317.

Thanks - Beth Gustafson, RN
Groton Area School Nurse

Flu Shot Clinics - at the Elementary and the High School

ELEMENTARY:
Flu shot clinic at the Elementary on Tuesday the 13th from 2:30 - 8:00 pm for 6th graders and below. Bring your child along to your conference - or come before or after and get them vaccinated. There is a $7 administration fee. Younger siblings that are not yet in school are also welcome!!

JH/HS:
The FLU clinic at the high school will be Friday, November 16th from 8:30 till around Noon. The 2007 Influenza Vaccination record form should be filled out, along with a check for $7 payable to Day County Community Health for the administration of the shot. We need these forms by Wednesday at the latest so we can get an estimate on how many are needed.

Once your child gets the shot they may or may not get a mild reaction - which could be: soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and/or aches. If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 - 2 days.

Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot!! If you have any other questions or concerns, please give me a call # 397-2317.

Thanks - Beth Gustafson, RN
Groton Area School Nurse

GIVE IT A TRY -- Vicks Vaporub for a cough!!!!

Ok - this is not scientific or FDA approved, nor would it have to be, but hey it just might help!! Vicks is good for a lot of things, so they've added one more. If you have a child with a night time cough and you can't find anything to help - try VICKS!! Put the Vicks vaporub generously on the bottoms of both feet at bedtime - then cover with socks. The vicks is supposedly absorbed through the foot soles - and thus, absorbing in the vicks and soothing the child - the cough generally stops in about 5 minutes and lasts for several hours.

Scientists at the Canada Research council (who discovered it) aren't sure why. But hey, if it works - that's WONDERFUL!!!!

Let me know if you try this at home and what results you had!! Thanks - Beth!!

Healthy HALLOWEEN Treats

Here are some healthy halloween treat ideas:

Pencil toppers Rubber balls Play tattoos Jacks
Hair bows Trail mix Yo - Yo's Stickers
Water guns Mini raisin boxes Granola bar Ritz bits - fun size
Pudding cups Toothbrush Party cups Jello cups
Trading cards Dried fruit Applesauce cups Pencils
Kazoos Juice boxes Bubbles Markers

Have a Happy - Healthy - HALLOWEEN - Beth Gustafson, RN
Groton Area School Nurse

1st grade Hearing Screening

Parents - I just finished up the hearing screenings in 1st grade - they should of come home with a half sheet of paper with the results or will be bringing them home today!!

Next week Thursday, the Presentation Nursing Students, Dr. Margie Washnok, and myself will be doing more screenings - watch for those results to come home Thursday and/or Friday.

Have a good weekend - Beth Gustafson, RN
Groton Area School Nurse

SCREENINGS - September 27th, 2007

Screenings are scheduled for Thursday, September 27th.

Vision: Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, and 5th
Physical Assessments: Kindergarten and 5th
Scoliosis: 5th grade boys and girls
Height & Weight: Kindergarten - 6th

Your child will bring home a half sheet of paper with the results - please ask your child for the paper. If your child needs to be rechecked - those are usually done 2 - 3 weeks later with results going home then.

Thanks - Beth Gustafson - Groton School Nurse

Signs & Symptoms of STREP THROAT

A sore, scratchy throat is often the first sign - other signs and symptoms to look for are:
Throat pain
Difficulty swallowing
Red and swollen tonsils - sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
Fever
Headache
Rash
Stomachache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children
Call your doctor if: a sore throat without a cold or runny nose, a sore throat accompanied by tender, swollen lymph glands, a sore throat that lasts longer than 48 hours, or a fever higher than 103 F in older children; any fever lasting longer than 48 hours.

WHAT'S GOING AROUND

Yes - September is coming in like a LION!! STUFF is going around!! We have a couple of cases of strep throat, nausea, and headaches. Hopefully, with the weather turning cooler the headaches will get better.

FYI: Your body is made up of about 80% of water - we need to drink at least 8 - 8oz glasses of water a day to keep hydrated. If you don't - headaches can develop!!

Attention Parents of Kindergartners

2007-08 school year had parents running out to get a 2nd dose of varicella (chicken pox). The 2nd dose has to be at least 3 months from the first dose. As many of you are aware - some clinics are having a hard time keeping up with the increase in numbers. You may have to wait a little bit, but that's okay.

Welcome back from the school nurse!!

Let's stay connected - when you what to know what's going around, what immunizations your child may need, or you want any information on a specific medical condition; this is the place to come to.