Skip to main content

Sick Day Guidelines/ Helping Your Child Stay Healthy

Anna C. Scott School
Nurse’s Office
Sick Day Guidelines: Making the Right Call 
When should I keep my child home?
Keep your child home if he or she: 
  • Has a fever of 100 degrees or higher 
  • Has vomited or has had diarrhea 
    • Your child must be home for 24 hours after vomiting or having diarrhea
  • Has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as: 
    • Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite 
    • Productive coughing & sneezing 
    • Headache, body aches, earache 
    • Sore throat 
    • Redness, itching and /or discharge in one or both eyes
    • Undiagnosed rash
A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Contact your pediatrician as your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat. 
Keep your child home until his or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever reducing medication. Colds and viruses may be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and expose others unnecessarily to illness. 
Does my child have the flu? 
Call your pediatrician at the first sign of flu symptoms, which typically comes on suddenly. Symptoms include: 
  • Fever 
  • Chills 
  • Headache, body aches, earache 
  • Nausea, vomiting 
  • Dry cough 
  • If you’re unsure about the best way to treat your child’s cold or flu, ask your health care provider.
If your child is diagnosed with the flu they should remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication.
How can I help my child feel better? 
  • Make sure your child gets plenty of rest
  • Encourage fluids, like water, soup, juice and ice
  • Help your child relax by reading him a story and giving him plenty of TLC 
  • Use medication only when advised to do so by your health care provider


Linda Bernard, RN, MS, CSN
School Nurse
Anna C. Scott School
Nurse’s Office


Helping your child stay healthy
  • Teach your child to wash his or her hands frequently using plenty of soap and warm water. Proper hand-washing should take about 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
  • Teach your child to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their sleeve. 
  • Keep your child’s environment smoke and tobacco free. 
  • Try to minimize the time your child spends with other children who have coughs or cold symptoms. 
  • Pack products like disinfecting hand wipes and hand sanitizers in your child’s backpack to use when he or she is at school.
  • Have an annual well-child exam to follow changes in your child’s health. 
  • Keep all of your child’s immunizations up-to-date.
  • Serve a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. Giving a daily vitamin may be recommended by your pediatrician.
  • Teach your child not to share food in school.
  • When your child is feeling better after being ill, clean all surfaces; wash the bedding and air out the room.
  • Keep surfaces like door knobs, phones, remote controls, toys, and keyboards clean. 
  • Always make sure to consult with your doctor if you have any questions. 






Linda Bernard, RN, MS, CSN

School Nurse

Comments

Post a Comment


Once your comments are reviewed they will be posted.

Popular posts from this blog

Kindergarten Music

Kindergarten Music Kindergarten music class is a fun environment that allows children to explore their musical talents and creativity! Our program focuses on the element of play in music. This is achieved through the use of movement, games, dancing, puppets, stories and a variety of instruments. There is also a large component of vocal development at this age. Classes are held once a week for 45 minutes. Our lessons are carefully crafted with the young child’s development in mind. Lessons are developed to allow children to express themselves freely in a welcoming and uplifting space. Music lessons reinforce important literacy, math and social skills. Students are introduced to a variety of different genres and multicultural music to help broaden their musical repertoire. I am so excited to meet your child this upcoming fall. As a music educator I believe it is my goal to help create tuneful, beautiful & artful students who will develop a strong appreciation for mus
Post a Comment
Read more

Kindergarten Orientation Information from Nurse Bernard

    Anna C. Scott School Nurse’s Office Kindergarten Orientation Information for September 2020 Hello Parents/Guardians of the Kindergarten Class of 2021. I hope you are all well and safe at home. It is time to start getting your child ready for kindergarten. There is medical information that is required by the State of New Jersey for entry into kindergarten. You will need to submit a physical examination form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the United States. This physical must be done within one year of entry to school. Proof of immunizations must also be submitted. If your child needs an updated physical examination and/or immunizations, talk to your doctor about when to schedule an appointment. It may be difficult to schedule one at the end of the summer. Children cannot enter school without documentation of the physical and immunizations. Please complete the Medical History form and have your child’s Dentist complete the Dental exam
Post a Comment
Read more

Kindergarten Physical Education

Kindergarten Physical Education Children love our Physical Education classes!  Our program places an emphasis on the development of basic locomotor, non-locomotor, and manipulative skills.  We provide our students the opportunity to practice these skills in a variety of developmentally appropriate activities and lessons.     Classes are held twice a week, and last for 45 minutes each.  During this time, children learn the importance of healthy fitness levels and are provided opportunities to develop effective personal and social skills such as cooperation and good sportsmanship.    We are so excited to meet your child in the upcoming year!   As physical education teachers we hope to make movement and fitness fun, creating a lifelong love of physical activity. Please remember to wear sneakers and comfortable clothing on Gym days.    Keep Active and Moving,  Mrs. Corn, Mr. Morales and Mr. Ryan
Post a Comment
Read more