Health

alt=3D"School nurse" align=3Dcenter = v:shapes=3D"_x0000_i1025">

My name is = Kathleen Patrizi, RN, and I am the = full-time=20 certified school nurse at Springfield Twp. I provide = healthcare to approximately 335 students in grades K through 6 as = well as=20 42 staff members. Some of the health concerns I encounter=20 include:

pediculosis (head=20 lice)

respiratory ailments = (asthma)

diabetic=20 complications

gastrointestinal=20 disturbances

contagious=20 conditions

Nurses = New . .=20 . Children=20 entering grade 6 must meet State of New Jersey immunization = requirements=20 relating to hepatitis B vaccination.

As of=20 September 1, 2001, all children born on or after January 1, 1990 = and who=20 are entering grade 6, shall be required to document receipt of the = hepatitis B series.

Upon=20 receipt of the first dose of hepatitis B vaccine, a child may be = granted=20 provisional admission, permitting them to remain in school while = the=20 series is completed within the allotted time frame.

All=20 pupils must be in compliance with the New Jersey immunization = regulations in=20 order to remain in school, unless a child meets the criteria for = receiving=20 a medical or religious exemption from school officials.

Parents should=20 consult with their child's healthcare professional to ensure that = these=20 required doses of vaccine have been given, are in the process of = being=20 given, or are scheduled to be started. Parents should make the = necessary=20 medical appointments with their child's medical professional in = time to=20 have the series started or completed by the first day of school in = September. Those not in compliance will = not be=20 permitted to begin school until proper documentation is=20 received.

If=20 there is documentation of your child's administration of hepatitis = B=20 vaccine that is not on his/her health records in school, please = have it=20 sent or faxed to me.

If you=20 have any questions or concerns regarding this notice, please call = me at=20 609-723-2479, press 1, and leave a message. Information may be = faxed to=20 609-723-6112.

Thank=20 you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Kathleen=20 Patrizi, RN, = School=20 Nurse

Kathy=20 Patrizi, R.N.

Parents are=20 reminded to call the school nurse at 723-2479 (*824) between 8:00 = a.m. and=20 9:45 a.m. anytime their child will be absent from school, or = arrive late=20 to school. Parents of a child who is absent from school and from = whom we=20 have not received notification will be contacted by the school = nurse.=20

If it = is=20 necessary for your child to arrive late school, a parent must = accompany=20 the child to the office and sign the Daily Attendance = Log.=20

Backpacks - Each school year, = many=20 children are putting themselves at risk for postural problems, = early=20 degenerative changes, nerve damage in the upper extremities, and = chronic=20 back and neck pain. They are doing this by carrying their = backpacks=20 incorrectly. A physical therapist on a recent Good Morning = America=20 segment offered the following recommendations for children using = backpacks=20 to transport books and other "necessities" to and from = school.=20

Carry no more = than 10%=20 of the body weight (examples: wt 75 lbs. - No more = than a 7.5=20 lb. Backpack; wt. 100 lbs. - No more than a 10 lb.=20 Backpack)

Backpacks = should be=20 narrow and not wider than the body.

Backpacks = should be=20 carried higher on the back. This can be accomplished by = shortening=20 the straps. When backpacks are carried low, all of the = weight is=20 pressured on the shoulders; when carried high, the weight is = evenly=20 distributed on the back.

An=20 ergonomically-designed backpack is recommended - this = is one=20 that has:
    padded=20 shoulders
    angled=20 shoulder=20 straps
    compression=20 straps to keep the load closer to the=20 body
    waist=20 belt

Avoid carrying = backpacks=20 on one shoulder as this can lead to leaning over to the side = and=20 postural problems.

When picking = up a=20 backpack, especially a heavy one, bend the knees and pick it = up with=20 2 hands, not one hand flinging it over the=20 shoulder.

Be sure to = carry=20 necessities only and periodically discard those items no = longer=20 needed.

How to tell if = your=20 child has a potentially serious back problem from their=20 backpacks:
    leaning=20 over with poor posture
    cannot=20 pick backpack=20 up
    complaints=20 of pain
    redness=20 or soreness of shoulder

Please=20 monitor your child=92s backpack as their back health depends = on it. I=20 will be performing periodic weight checks of backpacks and = asking=20 teachers to have backpack clean-outs when the children clean = out=20 their desks. I encourage you to do the same.

Yours in=20 good health,
K Patrizi, RN School Nurse/ kpatrizi@springfieldschool= .org

Nurse's = Information

NJ FamilyCare -
Health coverage for uninsured = children=20 and adults in New=20 Jersey
1-800-701-0710 =20 http://www.njfamilycare.org/&nb= sp;

My = responsibilities also=20 include dispensing medication, teaching the students about all=20 aspects of medicine = and disease, hygiene, diabetic = monitoring,=20 nutrition, drugs, puberty, and caring for their bodies in a = healthy=20 manner. I also perform annual vision, hearing, blood = pressure,=20 height and weight screenings. In addition, I perform = scoliosis=20 screenings on students age 10 and above. I frequently work = with=20 parents on proper dispensing of their child's medication, proper = diet and=20 exercise, health concerns, and a variety of student=20 issues.

I also coordinate = health=20 speakers and doctor visits for physical examinations, keep = accurate=20 records of all student visits to my office, and maintain up to = date=20 immunization records on all students in the school. I firmly = believe=20 that each and every student in our school deserves the best = healthcare=20 that can possibly be given.

My phone number is=20 609-723-2479 and press 1. I ask that you call this number if = your=20 child is going to be absent. If I do not answer, please = leave a=20 message and indicate if you would like a return = call.

Please note that any = child=20 that is at home ill or sent home ill with a fever, vomiting, or = diarrhea,=20 must be without these symptoms for 24 hours before returning to = school.=20 Any student being treated for a Strep infection must be on = their=20 medication for 24 hours before returning to = school.

FYI - Medication may NOT be administered in = school=20 without a doctor's order and parent permission. This = includes=20 prescribed or over-the-counter medication. Please refer to = the=20 student handbook for other information concerning medication in=20 school.

Please feel free to = contact me=20 for any concerns about your child. If I do not answer, I may = be=20 teaching Health class, but I will return your=20 call.