School Nurse Teacher
Nurse Hildebrandt's Health Tips
"Working to motivate and assist students to improve their health, prevent disease and reduce health related risk behaviors."
Welcome
Welcome to our School Nurse page! You will be able to view monthly Nutrition Nuggets here and any other important health documents needed for your child.
Contact Us
Karyn Hildebrandt
3rd-5th Grade School Nurse & Teacher
Email: khildebrandt@egsd.net
Phone: 401-398-1501
Cold & Flu Season
Cold and flu season seems to always be around the corner. It’s not always easy to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, but here are some general symptoms that may help differentiate between them:
Flu Symptoms
Chills
Decreased Appetite
Dry Cough
Headache
High Fever
Muscle Aches
Severe Exhaustion
Sudden Onset
Usually no sore throat
Cold Symptoms
Mild Exhaustion
No (or mild) Fever
Normal Appetite
Severe or Hacking Cough
Slow Onset
Sore Throat
Usually no chills
Usually no headache
Usually no muscle aches
Important note: Symptoms vary from child to child, so call your child’s healthcare provider if you suspect the flu. (Source: www.kidshealth.org)
Head Lice Information
As we kick off another school year, it is important that our parents have accurate information about head lice, especially in light of recent reports of resistance. The East Greenwich school district School Nurse-Teachers encourage you to familiarize yourself with this topic by accessing the information we have posted on our webpage. Our protocols have been and continue to be consistent with the standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses. If you suspect your child has head lice PLEASE notify your school nurse, this will help us maintain early detection and treatment in order to limit its prevalence in our community.
Absence From School
Diagnosed students can return to school after the completion of the first pediculicide shampoo. Students identified with live lice at school will be sent home at the end of the school day and the parents of the student(s) will be notified by the school nurse so that treatment can occur.
Other Precautions
Please contact the school nurse if head lice are discovered on your child. Names will be kept confidential. This process allows the school to monitor possible recurrence and spread. Close contacts or those who may have had close head to head contact such as household members and playmates of infested children should be examined by a parent/guardian. In addition, it is important to periodically inspect your child's head throughout the school year.
Remember Lice do not cause disease, but it can take time and work to get rid of them.
Questions: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your school nurse directly or your primary care physician. Avoid under-reporting; seek guidance regarding treatment protocols; and understand that we will always maintain confidentiality.
Additional Information:
Pediculosis Management in the School Setting (Nat'l Assoc of School Nurses)
Protect Yourself & Your Children From Mosquito Bites
The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) wants all Rhode Islanders to protect themselves from mosquito bites to help avoid mosquito-borne illness. People who work outside or attend outdoor activities or events are more likely to get bitten by mosquitoes.
Prevention & Action Steps
Here's what you can do:
If you don't have to be outside early in the morning or in the evening, stay inside. Mosquitoes are most active at these times of day.
Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and bug spray if you will be outside at sunrise or sundown.
Use bug spray with no more than 30-percent DEET, and reapply if washed off by sweating or by getting wet. (You can find the DEET information on the label).
Do not use bug spray with DEET on a baby 2 months of age or younger.
Cover your baby's playpen or carriage with mosquito netting if you and the baby are outside.
Make sure all of your windows and doors have screens. Be sure to fix any holes in screens.
Empty anything in your yard that holds standing water, such as buckets, tubs, kiddie pools, and old tires.
Clean your gutters so that water will drain properly.
If you or someone in your care has a mosquito bite and develops symptoms such as a fever, headache, body aches, or swollen lymph glands, call your doctor. Symptoms of severe infection with West Nile Virus (WNV) or Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) include:
Coma
Convulsions
Disorientation
Headache
Muscle Weakness
Paralysis
Stiff Neck
Stupor
Tremors
Anyone of any age can be infected, but children and people ages 50 and above - especially the elderly-can develop more severe forms of illness. People with weakened immune systems or with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and kidney disease, are also at greater risk of severe illness.
For more information about protecting yourself from mosquito-borne disease, visit the state health page or call the HEALTH Information Line at 401-222-5960.