Cold and flu season coming achoo

NEA Today, Oct 1999

The aches and pains-and missed school

days-of the cold and flu season are

almost here. Paul Sathrum of NEA's Health

Information Network spoke recently with

Dr. Michael Ponder, a family physician in Virginia, to

find out how to help students stay healthy and what

to do when they show up sick.

What can school staff do to help prevent flu epidemics?

Certainly, when we think of the spread of colds and flu, the number one way epidemics spread is through the air Unfortunately, we don't have a whole lot of control over the air in schools.

One of the primary things school personnel should look at is their school's air filtering mechanism. These mechanisms need to be clean-and kept clean-so that when viruses are filtered, there's room for them to be absorbed and taken out of general circulation.

What about children who are sent to school sick?

My wife was a teacher, and she has a wonderful story about a little boy bringing in a note from his parents saying, Little Johnny threw up this morning but was feeling better, so I sent him to school."

As Johnny brought the note to my wife, he threw up on her desk.

This is another way of saying that parents have to be more aggressive about keeping their children at home-especially any child that has a fever, cold, or congestion.

A child who has nausea and has vomited at home during the night should certainly not go to school the next day

Every school system is, of course, different, but we are seeing in many areas of the country the hiring of more school nurses, especially for the younger grades. Many nurses have become very aggressive about documenting children's health early, helping teachers do quick assessments when a child first comes to school in the moming, and getting sick children out of circulation and home as quickly as possible.

What should school staff look for in a quick assessment of a child's health?

There are several things to look for Does the child feel warm? The hand is not a great thermometer, but it certainly gives an idea if a child is running a temperature.

Educators often say that they can look at a child's eyes and see if the child is not feeling well. The tell-tale signs: Red eyes or dark circles around the eyes, an indication the child did not sleep well the night before.

Also look for any drainage from the eyes-yellow or green drainage is especially bad. These children need to be out of school for at least 24 hours and taken to their doctor.

If children say they're not feeling well and their hands are extremely cool, that's also a potential sign of trouble. Sometimes, children's bodies try to get rid of the heat when they have a fever, and, in the process, hands can become cool.

The child who is normally a great eater who suddenly doesn't want to eat should be evaluated. Until a teacher or school staffer knows every child well, any children who say their tummy or their head hurts deserves a look over. Any complaint should be taken seriously.

What school-based policies would you recommend for dealing with colds and flu?

In most schools, the child is evaluated and the parents are called to pick up the child.

If the school or school nurselet's hope most schools are going to have nurses-feels that a child should be taken out of school because of illness. there should be a protocol in place, under which the parents or caregiver will be called to come and get the child. If your school does not have a protocol already in place for dealing with children who become ill during school hours, I would strongly recommend that one be developed.

Is the flu shot recommended for children?

The flu shot is not recommended for all children at this time. though shots are often recommended for children who have compromised immune systems, chronic lung problems, or other immune system problems.