• Student Medication Forms & Info

      MEDICATION

      Ideally, medication of any kind is given at home. However, a parent/guardian wishing to have medicine administered to a child at school must follow these procedures:

      Prescription Medication

      For a child to take prescribed medication during the school day, a parent/guardian must complete the Prescription Medication Permission Form(A copy is included in the annual student handbook, is available in the office, orclick on the link below).

      Prescription Medication Form

       No medication will be administered until the school receives the completed form. The medication must be brought in the original container appropriately labeled by a pharmacy or physician.

      All medication must be kept in and dispensed through the health office. Students may notkeep medication in their backpacks or desks.

      Non-prescription Medication

      On the Annual Health Update form sent home at the start of each school year, parents are asked to indicate whether or not they give permission for the school nurse or designee to administer over-the-counter medication (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Tums) to their child(ren). Please fill out this annual form (see link below) completely for each child and notify the school office of any changes during the year.

      Non-prescription medication form

      All medication must be kept in and dispensed through the health office. Students may not keep medication in their backpacks or desks.

      Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

       
       

    • Immunization Information

      The Vermont Department of Health collects immunization data from all Vermont public and independent schools.  Please click this link for information on CES for the school year 2015-16: 

       
       

    • Sore Throats

      With the arrival of fall weather we tend to see an increase in sore throats in children and adults, so I thought it a good time to try to address the question, when is it just a sore throat or something more serious. Sore throats can have a variety of causes. Viruses, bacteria, allergens, environmental irritants (such as cigarette smoke), chronic postnasal drip and fungi can all cause that unpleasant, scratchy sometimes painful condition known as a sore throat.  While many sore throats will heal without treatment, some throat infections-including strep throat-may need treatment with an antibiotic.                                   

      Strep throat is an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by group A streptococcus bacteria (called “group A strep”). Group A strep bacteria can live in a person’s nose and throat. The bacteria are spread through contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. If you drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate as the person, you can also become ill. It is also possible to get strep throat from contact with sores from group A skin infections. 

      Common symptoms of Strep Throat are:

      -Sore throat usually starting quickly

      -Severe pain when swallowing

      -A fever (101F or above) although many cases of strep throat do not have fever

      -Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus

      -Tiny red spots (petechiae) on the back of the roof of the mouth

      -Headache

      -Nausea and or vomiting

      -Swollen lymph nodes in the neck

      -Body aches

      -Rash                                  

      You cannot diagnosis strep throat just by looking, and you should never use or give antibiotics that were not prescribed for you or the person you are giving them too. Your provider can do a strep test to determine if your child has strep throat. If the test is positive, the provider can prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Antibiotics reduce the length of time your child will be sick and reduce the symptoms. Antibiotic treatment may also prevent the spread of infection to friends and family. They can also prevent complications such as tonsil and sinus infections and rheumatic fever.                                                            

      People diagnosed with strep throat should stay home from work, school or daycare for at least 24 hours after starting prescribed antibiotics.  Be sure to finish the entire prescription, even when you start to feel better before the medication is all gone. Call your doctor if you or your child doesn’t feel better after taking the antibiotics for 48 hours.

      The best way to keep from getting strep throat is to wash your hands often and avoid sharing eating utensils, like forks and cups. It is especially important for anyone with a sore throat to wash their hands often and cover their coughs and sneezes.

      Please contact me with any questions or concerns.

       

    • Flu Season/ Decision Chart

      Flu Decision Chart

      Use these guidelines to help make the best decision for your loved ones.

       Child or Adult                                                                                    Decision

       No fever or less than 100.4 F                                                   Probably a cold

      • Sore throat                                                                      Stay home and Rest
      • Stuffy nose
      • Runny Nose
        • Cough

       

      Child or Adult                                                                                    Decision

      • Fever above 100.4                                                             Probably the Flu
      • Cough                                                                           Stay home for at least 24 hours after
      • Significant Fatigue                                                         the fever is gone without the use of
      • Sore Throat                                                                  fever reducing medications.
      • Runny Nose                                                                    Cover coughs and sneezes
      • Muscle Aches                                                                  Wash hands often
        • Headache                                                                 Fluids and rest

      Child or Adult at Risk                                                                        Decision

      • Under age 5                                                                      Probably the Flu
      • Over 65                                                                         Call your Doctor for advice
      • Under age 19 receiving aspirin therapy
      • Pregnant
      • Chronic medical conditions
        • Compromised immune systems

      Child or Adult                                                                                    Decision

      • Fever over 100.4 F                                                           Call 911 or go to the emergency
      • Difficulty breathing                                                             room immediately.
      • Sever neck stiffness
      • Drowsiness, confusion, disorientation
      • Convulsions
      • No urine production for 12 hours
        • Infant under 3 months
Melekos