Resources for adults and children following the tragedy in Uvalde Texas

For those looking for immediate resources, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network developed the following to help children, families, educators, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings, and find ways to cope together. These resources include:

• Talking to Children about the Shooting

• Helping Youth After a Community Trauma: Tips for Educators 

• Talking to Children: When Scary Things Happen  

• Talking to Teens about Violence 

• Tips for Talking to Students about Violence; and,

• Coping After Mass Violence: For Adults.

Click here for resources for COVID testing 

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Check the Carbon Monoxide Detector

89 NJ Residents Helped Since Oct 1st

(New Jersey) – When was the last time you tested your carbon monoxide (CO) detector to make sure it was working? Did you remove the batteries and forget to replace them? Is the detector turned off or unplugged because it kept beeping? Having working CO detectors in your living space is the only way to know if there’s a carbon monoxide leak in your home, building, business, or motorhome/RV. 

“Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas overlooked by many people because it gives no warning – you can’t see, smell, hear, or taste it,” says Diane Calello, executive and medical director of the New Jersey Poison Control Center at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Department of Emergency Medicine. “Since October of this year, our poison specialists have assisted 66 callers with carbon monoxide exposures.”

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an immediate and deadly danger. Dangerous levels of CO gas can build up quickly poisoning those inside. People and pets can come in contact with this gas any time of the year. Carbon monoxide can only be detected by having working CO detectors.

“CO detectors don’t malfunction as often as people think. When the alarm on your detector sounds, take it seriously and act fast,” says Calello. “Most of the time, it’s not malfunctioning – it’s trying to save your life. Get outside right away and call your fire department or energy provider.”

Install battery-operated or battery back-up CO detector on every floor and near bedrooms and other sleeping areas. Do a safety check two times a year to make sure the batteries and the units are working correctly. An easy way to remember to check the detectors is to check them when changing the time for Daylight Savings in the fall and spring. If you did not check the detectors on Sunday, November 7th, check them today.

“As we head into cold and flu season while continuing to battle COVID-19 infections, it’s important you pay careful attention to the signs and symptoms you may be feeling,” says Calello. “Early symptoms of CO poisoning can be confused with symptoms of viral illnesses like the common cold, seasonal flu and COVID-19.” Symptoms of CO poisoning may include headache, dizziness, weakness, tiredness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain and confusion.

Stopping a CO leak before it happens is the best way to prevent getting sick from carbon monoxide. This deadly gas can leak from heating systems and other fuel-burning appliances in your home or building.  Have a heating and air conditioning professional do a safety check each year to make sure your heating system and other appliances are working properly.

Lesser-known sources of carbon monoxide poisoning include portable gas generators often used when homes and buildings lose power; blocked heating and dryer vents; portable room heaters; fireplace/chimney liners; blocked engine and exhausts on cars and boats; and smoking hookah in spaces that are too small and have little ventilation.

Carbon monoxide poisoning can be hard to recognize. CO poisoning is a medical emergency that requires you to act quickly. If a person or pet came in contact with carbon monoxide, follow these steps and get help right away.

1. If the person is not breathing or hard to wake up, get them out of the house and call 9-1-1.  If a pet was exposed to CO, contact a veterinarian or animal hospital.

2. Get out of the home or building right away. Do not stop to open windows. The longer you are inside the more carbon monoxide you will breathe in.

3. Contact your local fire department or energy provider.

4. Call the NJ Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 for medical treatment advice. Do not waste time “Googling” what to do. Call for fast, free, and accurate information.

Poison control centers are a medical resource for the public and healthcare professionals. Get help 24/7. New Jersey residents:  Call 1-800-222-1222 or Chat Here

If someone is not breathing, hard to wake up, or having a seizure, call 9-1-1.

Help is Just a Phone Call Away!

Real People. Real Answers.

The Middlesex County Office of Health Services is offering vaccine clinics that are open to Children ages 5-11.   

The vaccine of choice is strictly Pfizer for children ages 5-11.

For more information about COVID Vaccines, including translated materials in Spanish and Gujarati, the most current clinic schedule, registration options as well as information about homebound vaccinations, residents are encouraged to visit http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/PSH/Pages/Covid-19-Vaccine.aspx

11/03/2021 Update on the COVID vaccine for 5-11 year old children

Yesterday ACIP ( The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) needed to vote on the following: “The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for children 5-11 years of age in the U.S. population under the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization”.

• Yes: 14 votes

• No: 0 votes

The ball now goes to the CDC. If the CDC and FDA agree, then vaccines will officially be authorized and can go into the arms of 5-11 year olds. Unofficially, this may take a few days given distribution difficulties. Update: the CDC has given the go ahead clearing the way for immediate vaccination of the youngest age group yet in the United States.

"CDC now expands vaccine recommendations to about 28 million children in the United States in this age group and allows providers to begin vaccinating them as soon as possible," the agency said in a statement.

COVID19 will now be a vaccine-preventable disease for 5-11 year olds.

To see the CDC statement authorizing pediatric vaccine please visit:  https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1102-PediatricCOVID-19Vaccine.html

For parents who will seek to vaccinate their children for COVID “right away”:

To find a vaccination site, visit covid19.nj.gov/finder. Pediatric doses are expected to be listed on the site soon and the list will get updated as additional sites are added.

• The public will be able to search for sites that currently have the pediatric vaccine and can also contact the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 855-568-0545. 

• When your child gets the vaccine, PLEASE enroll them into V-safe. Here is an overview of V-safe and how to register. You will get the follow-up text messages (not your 5-11 year old).

For parents who will “wait and see” or parents who will “definitely not” vaccinate:

• First and foremost, please have a conversation with your child’s pediatrician. They are there to listen and know the health and medical history of your child best. Fact sheet for parents and caregivers here. 

• For a Q&A with the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding the vaccine for 5-11 year olds and a discussion  that  addresses many parental concerns  click  here.

• Here are the top 8 parental concerns of the COVID19 vaccine 

Update to school district COVID protocol 10/01/2021

Parents/guardians must call the school to inform them of a student's absence and must report illness symptoms.  If the school is unable to verify that the student is not exhibiting symptoms of COVID 19, the student will be excluded from school and entered into isolation "drop in" instruction until verification is received that the student's absence is not due to COVID symptoms or a negative COVID test result is provided.  

Any student exhibiting two or more symptoms from column A and/or one symptom from column B must remain home and will be  required to go for COVID testing (rapid or PCR test acceptable).  Student may return to school if a negative COVID test result is provided to the school nurse AND the student is symptom free for 24 hours.  

Symptomatic students presenting to the nurse's office with two or more symptoms from column A and/or one symptom from column B will be required to go for COVID testing.  Rapid antigen testing is available in the Health Office with parent/guardian signed permission or you may elect to use your own provider.  Click here for link to consent form. **home tests will not be accepted**

Students must be cleared by the school nurse prior to returning to school after absence related to COVID rule out, quarantine or isolation.

There is no longer any requirement for students either vaccinated or un-vaccinated to quarantine after domestic or international travel.

Column A Column B

Fever ( measured or subjective)       Cough

Chills                                                                              Shortness of Breath

Shivers                                                                          Difficulty Breathing

Muscle Aches                                                              New Loss of Smell and/or Taste     

Headache

Sore throat

Nausea/Vomiting

Diarrhea

Fatigue

Congestion/Runny Nose             

South Plainfield School District New Protocols for Quarantine and Isolation 

(Updated 10/11/2021)

As of February 22, 2021, any unvaccinated student  who has been in close contact with someone testing positive for COVID-19 (close contact is defined as within 6 feet for a cumulative time of 15 minutes or more over a 24 hour period. Exception: In the K–12 indoor classroom setting, the close contact definition excludes students who were within 3 to 6 feet of an infected student (laboratory-confirmed or a clinically compatible illness) where both the infected student and the exposed student(s) correctly and consistently wore well-fitting masks the entire time). OR  who has any two symptoms from column A and/or any one symptom from column B must quarantine for contact or isolate if symptomatic for a minimum of 10 days from the day of contact/ day  first symptoms appear. You may have your child tested on day five if they are quarantined for close contact (day zero is counted as the date of contact/start of symptoms).  If the test result is negative you must provide a copy of the test results to the school nurse and the student may then return to in person learning (if cleared to return) on day 8. Those choosing not to test may have their child return on day 11. Those in isolation with symptoms may test at any time and return with proof of a negative test.  Students must be fever free for >24 hours and well enough to attend school. ***

    Students with a documented COVID-19 infection (written documentation required from student's    doctor) within the  past 90 days are not required to quarantine due to exposure.

Column A Column B

Fever ( measured or subjective) Cough

Chills                                                                        Shortness of Breath

Shivers                                                                     Difficulty Breathing

Muscle Aches                                                         New Loss of Smell and/or taste Headache                                               

Sore throat

Nausea/Vomiting

Diarrhea

Fatigue

Congestion/Runny Nose