From the Desk of Mrs. Campbell
This is just a fact sheet for you to keep
about Pink Eye.
Winter time is the primary season for Pink Eye to spread.
To help us prevent Pink eye, please talk with your
children about hand washing and not touching their eyes. If you
see any of the signs or symptoms of Pink Eye, please keep them
home until they have been evaluated by a healthcare
professional.
Emergency Information
Rolla Emergency Information
Dent-Phelps R-III Medications Policy
The administration of prescription or over-the-counter medication by school personnel to students in school shall be done only with written authorization and direction of a licensed medical or osteopathic physician or dentist. A "Request for Medication to be given at School" form shall be filled out and signed by the physician/dentist and the parent/guardian.
- Prescription medication must be in the original containers with the pharmacy label attached. Over-the-counter medications must also be in the original containers.
- Parents should bring their child's medication to the school's Nurse's office. If for any reason this is not a possibility, you should hand deliver to their bus driver and the driver will deliver the medication to the nurse. Please call the school nurse and notify her, and tell her the amount you are sending.
- Students are only allowed to take medication in school when it is give to them by the school nurse/or other approved health associate in the office. Exceptions would be when written permission is given to students with asthma to carry an inhaler with them.
- Prescriptions are only good for the current school year.
- No medication will be kept at school through the summer months. Any medication that is not picked up will be discarded.
What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Every year in the United States, on average:
- 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu
- more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications
- about 36,000 people die from flu
Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Symptoms of Flu
Symptoms of flu include:
- fever (usually high)
- headache
- extreme tiredness
- dry cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuffy nose
- muscle aches
- Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Complications of Flu
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
How Flu Spreads
Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.
Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There are two types of vaccines:
- The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
- The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age† who are not pregnant.
About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
REYE’S SYNDROME
Reye’s syndrome is a very serious disease that you should know about.
Some people develop Reye’s syndrome as they are getting over a viral illness, such as the flu or chicken pox. Reye’s syndrome usually affects people from infancy through young adulthood.
Reye’s syndrome should be suspected in anyone who vomits repeatedly. Studies have shown that using aspirin or aspirin-containing medications to treat the symptoms of viral illnesses increases the chance of developing Reye’s syndrome. If you or a member of your family has a viral illness, do not use aspirin or aspirin-containing medications. In fact, you should consult your physician before you take any drugs, particularly aspirin or anti-nausea medicines, to treat flu, chicken pox or any viral illness. Anti-nausea medicines may mask the symptoms of Reye’s syndrome.
The National Reye’s syndrome Foundation, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever causing illnesses.