If your child has a confirmed diagnosis of H1N1 Flu, please notify Mrs. Hlinomaz by phone during school hours, and/or voicemail or e-mail. The Health Office phone is 293-9452 ext 243, E-mail npsajhlinoma@mdeca.org. Information may be left whether school is open or closed, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Personal information will be kept confidential and shared on a need to know basis with appropriate authorities to keep everyone safe.
Nurse at 104 W. Dorothy Lane, Kettering, OH 45429 US - MRSA
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What is MRSA and what do you need to know?
Recently in the Dayton news we have heard about MRSA. A school north of Dayton closed last week and there was a report of a student in Beavercreek with this problem. Hopefully, I can dispel some fears and help educate you on some very simple measures that will prevent this infection.
MRSA stands for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Public Health of Dayton and Montgomery County has recently sent a letter to all schools in our county to make them aware of community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). The health department has asked that coaches, teachers and parents be educated on the signs and symptoms of MRSA and ways to prevent the skin infections that result from the bacteria. Public health stated that CA-MRSA is frequently seen in school athletes.
Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a spider bite, a pimple or a boil, and can be red, swollen, painful or have pus or other drainage. Schools may be an area where CA-MRSA can be spread. Factors that have been associated with its spread are: close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items or surfaces and poor hygiene.
Measures for preventing staphlococcal skin infections are simple and consist of:
- Frequently wash hands with liquid soap and water.
- Clean all wounds with soap and water.
- Cover all wounds. Student athletes with wounds that cannot be covered adequately should be considered for exclusion from play.
- Good hygiene, including washing with soap and water is essential.
- Do not share towels and personal items (clothing, equipment).
- Athletic equipment that is shared by athletes should be cleaned routinely.
- Recognize signs of wound infections (redness, swelling, pus or drainage and skin surrounding the wound feeling hot to touch).
- Children should let coaches and parents know about all skin lesions and proper cleaning and bandaging should occur.
- Parents and coaches should assess children regularly for skin lesions.
These measures are common sense and easy to follow. If you would like further information please go to:
http://lapublichealth.org/acd/docs/MRSA/MRSA%20Guidelines.2007.pdf
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_ca.html
I am confident that you, your family members and our students will remain free of CA-MRSA with good handwashing and bandaging of cuts and abrasions.
Mrs. Hlinomaz MS, RN, School Nurse