Polson School District Staff Health Education Training Modules

Please utilize the training modules below to familiarize yourself with common school related health issues and how to manage certain situations. Thank you to each of you for taking the time to review this information and for your assistance in helping to maintain the health and safety of our students and staff. Please submit the attestation at the end of the modules that confirms you have completed the training for the school year. Please let the school nurse know if you have any questions.

Allergies (Severe)

Asthma

Bloodborne Pathogens/Proper Handwashing Technique

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)/Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

Choking

Concussion

Diabetes

Head Lice

Opioid Awareness

Seizures

Tips for Creating Healthy Classrooms

ALLERGIES (SEVERE)

What is anaphylaxis?

• Anaphylaxis is a potentially severe or life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur very rapidly—it can be as quick as within a couple of minutes of exposure to the allergen.

• It can be triggered by an allergy to a particular food (nuts, shellfish, fruits), biting or stinging insects (bees/wasps), medication (penicillin), latex (balloons) or a mix of other allergic triggers.

• Life-threatening food allergies can be triggered even if they aren’t in the area at the same time... oils can linger and cause a reaction if exposed later.

What are signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction?

• Symptoms of anaphylaxis are not the same for everyone, but common symptoms include hives, itching, flushing and swelling of the lips, tongue and roof of the mouth.

• The airway is often involved which can result in tightness of the throat and/or chest, and difficulty breathing. These life-threatening allergic reactions can also occur with chest pain, low blood pressure, dizziness, and headaches.

What do I need to know?

• Know which students have life-threatening allergies and that they can and will be “self-carrying” Epi pens and inhalers

• Know where EPI Pens are located:

Cherry Valley - safe

Linderman/Middle School - health office

High School - vault

• Epi-pen administration instructions/protocol are stored with the pens

• Call 911 after administration - it's the law!

• Check with school nurse/health aide before leaving campus on field trips to get first-aid kit and EPI pens

Training

• It is important that each staff member knows when and how to use the Epi-Pen in case of an emergency

• Click on the button below to view a video on how to use an EpiPen

• Step-by-step instruction hand-out below is available to print

• Practice pens are available at each school - please contact school nurse for demonstration and practice

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: EPIPEN/EPIPEN Jr. (2022). What is anaphylaxis? https://www.epipen.com/en/what-is-anaphylaxis

ASTHMA

What is asthma?

• Chronic, and potentially serious disease of the lungs that makes it difficult to get air in and out of the lungs

What are asthma triggers?

• Indoor and outdoor allergens - dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold

• Emotional stress - strong anger, crying, or laughing

• Illness - colds and flu

• Air quality - poor air or extremely cold air

What are signs and symptoms of asthma attack?

• Shortness of breath, complaints of "hurting to take deep breath" (chest tightness), coughing, wheezing, and bluish coloration around the lips

What do I need to know?

• Know which students have asthma and that they can and will be "self-carrying" inhalers

• Inhalers are located in the health office for those who do not "self-carry"

• Be alert regarding air quality and temperature

• Check with school nurse/health aide before leaving campus on field trips to get first-aid kit and inhalers

• Notify school nurse/health aide if student needs to use inhaler during school activity

Training

• Click on videos below to learn what is asthma and how to use an inhaler

• Step-by-step instruction handouts available to print

• Follow links below for information on air quality

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Centers for Disease Control. (2021, July 1.) Learn how to control asthma. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/faqs.htm

BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS/PROPER HANDWASHING TECNIQUE

What is a bloodborne pathogen?

• Transferable microorganism in human blood (or other bodily fluid) that can cause illness/infection in humans. Examples include Hepatitis and HIV.

What do I need to know?

• Try and prevent contact with blood and bodily fluids when possible

• Where gloves when coming into contact with blood and/or bodily fluids

• Wash hands right away and completely after contact

• Disinfect surfaces immediately as well

Training

• Click on videos below to learn how to keep yourself safe from blood born pathogens and proper handwashing techniques

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: United States Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (2022). Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlestick Prevention. https://www.osha.gov/bloodborne-pathogens

CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR)/AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR (AED)

What is CPR?

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency technique that is performed when the heart is not beating

• If performed quickly, may increase the chances of survival 2-3 times after cardiac arrest

Why is CPR important?

• Keeps the blood flowing through the body until medical personnel arrive

What is high-quality CPR?

• Can be performed by all of us

• Limit interruptions in chest compressions

• Perform chest compressions at correct rate and depth

• Do not lean on victim between compressions

• Places hands in proper place

• Do not over ventilate

What is hands-only CPR?

• Can be performed by all of us

• Call 911 or send someone to call

• Push hard and fast in the middle of the chest

What is an AED?

• Automated external defibrillator (AED)

• Machine that analyzes a victim's heart rhythm

• Delivers a shock if analyzed rhythm is a shockable rhythm

• Shock delivered can return the victim's heart rhythm to normal

What do I need to know?

• Where AEDs are located in each building:

Cherry Valley - hallway outside of main office

Linderman - hallway outside of health office and hallway outside of main entry doors to gymnasium

Middle School - on wall inside first set of doors to the gymnasium

High School - on wall outside of main doors to gymnasium and on counter in health office

School Sports "Go Bag" - in high school athletic director's office

• Please let school nurse know if unit does not display OK on the screen, is beeping, or becomes damaged in any way

Training

• View videos below to learn hands only CPR and child CPR

• View video below for instructions on how to use the AED in your building

• Contact your school nurse/administrator for CPR/AED training opportunities

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: American Heart Association. (2022). What is CPR? https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/what-is-cpr

United States Department of Labor. Occupational Health and Safety Administration. (2022). Automated External Defibrillator (AED). https://www.osha.gov/aed

CHOKING

What is choking?

• Choking is when an object (food, toy, candy, coin, etc.) becomes stuck in the throat or windpipe and obstructs the flow of air

What do I need to know?

• Recognize symptoms of choking:

  • Unable to speak

  • Trouble breathing

  • High pitched squeak when trying to breath

  • Lips turning blue

  • Clutching the throat

• Universal sign for choking is hands crossed across the throat

• If victim becomes unresponsive - CALL 911 and begin CPR

Training

• View videos below to learn techniques for conscious and unconscious choking victims

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Mayo Clinic. (2022). Choking: First Aid. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-choking/basics/art-20056637

CONCUSSION

What is a concussion?

• A concussion is a kind of traumatic brain injury caused by a thump, whack, bang, or crash to the head or by a collision to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. This rapid movement can cause injury to the brain cells and its chemical makeup.

What are signs and symptoms of a concussion?

• Confused, does not recall events prior to and/or after injury, loss of consciousness, headache, blurry vision, sensitivity to light/noise, vomiting, tired, sluggish with reposes, forgets class schedule

What do I need to know?

• Know the signs and symptoms of a concussion (reference below)

• Know the danger signs of a concussion (video below)

• When in doubt sit student out of physical activity

• Notify school nurse immediately for any signs/symptoms of head injury

Training

• Familiarize yourself with signs and symptoms fact sheet (printable)

• View video regarding danger signs of a concussion

• Review tips for teachers handout in regards to assisting students recover from a concussion

• View video on what is a concussion and the recovery process from a concussion

• On-line, free training modules for specific roles (coaches, teachers) are available through the CDC. CDC Training Modules

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Centers for Disease Control. (2022, February 25). Heads Up. https://www.cdc.gov/HeadsUp/

DIABETES

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a life-long health problem that affects the body's ability to properly turn food into energy the body needs. There are two types of diabetes. Type I and Type II.

What is type I diabetes?

• Autoimmune disorder

• Body does not produce insulin because the cells are destroyed

• Daily insulin required for life

• Most common type of diabetes in children

What is type II diabetes?

• Body produces insulin, but does not use it properly

• Usually occurs in adulthood, but has become for prevalent among children and teens

What is hypoglycemia?

• Blood sugar is low (usually less than 60)

• Usually happens quickly

• Sweaty, shaky, pale, irritable, confused, weak, anxious, hungry, dizzy

• Symptoms will vary with each student

What is hyperglycemia?

• Blood sugar is high (usually greater than 300)

• More gradual onset, still medical emergency if not treated

• Frequent thirst and urination, tired, hungry

• Symptoms will vary with each student

What do I need to know?

• Understand and have the basic knowledge of what is diabetes

• Know which students have diabetes

• Know their signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia

• Know how to help student suffering from low or high blood sugar

Training

• View video below to have a basic knowledge and understanding of what diabetes is

• Review printable handouts below for signs/symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)

• Review printable tips for teachers handout below and contact school nurse if you have any questions

• School nurse will contact staff members who will be assisting in direct care of students with diabetes. Additional training will be provided.

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: American Diabetes Association. (2022, March 31). Training resources for school staff. https://www.diabetes.org/tools-support/know-your-rights/safe-at-school-state-laws/training-resources-school-staff

Centers for Disease Control. (2022, July 7). What is Diabetes?. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/diabetes.html

HEAD LICE

What are head lice?

• Parasitic insect that can be found on the head, eyebrows, and eyelashes

• Feed off human blood

• Move by crawling

• Cannot fly or jump or hop

• Spread from prolonged direct head-to-head contact

• Can also be spread from sharing clothing/objects like hats and brushes

What are signs and symptoms of head lice?

• Visible nits on hair shaft - tiny yellow, brown, or tan - do not brush off like dandruff

• Adult louse crawling on hair

• Itchy scalp

What do I need to know?

• Lice are annoying! Not a health issue.

• There are an estimated 6-12 million cases of head lice in children ages 3-11 per year in the United States alone!

• Polson School District does not have a no nit policy

• Parents will be notified when their student has lice, treatment is encouraged, but not required

• The recommendation for students with live lice is that they go home, however, it is not required a parent pick them up immediately for treatment

• Students with live lice will be encouraged to wear long hair up and wear a hat while at school

In your classroom

• A lice check of all students in your classroom may be made to the school nurse/health aide at any time

• If you are concerned about an individual student please send them to the health office to be checked

• If a parent reports their child has lice please send them to the health office to be checked

• Maintain student's confidentiality

• It is the parent's responsibility to notify other parents

• Regular vacuuming of floors, rugs, and soft furniture is helpful

• Items where students who have lice have rested their heads such as stuffed animal/pillows that cannot be washed should be bagged for 2-3 weeks

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Centers for Disease Control. (2020, September 17). FAQs about head lice. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/gen_info/faqs.html

OPIOID AWARENESS

What are opioids?

• Class of drugs used to reduce pain

• Naturally found in the opium poppy plant

• Commonly prescribed types are oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl for severe pain

• Illegally made/obtained types are heroin and fentanyl

What are signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose?

• Pinpoint pupils

• Unconsciousness or inability to wake up

• Slow or shallow breathing

• Choking sounds or a gurgling/snoring noise

• Fingernails or lips turning blue/purple.

What is Naloxone?

• Medication used to quickly reverse an opioid overdose

• Opioid antagonist - which means it attaches itself to opioid receptors and blocks or knocks off opioids

• Temporary fix, effects do not last long with opioids still circulating in the body

What do I need to know?

• Where Naloxone is kept in each building:

Cherry Valley - with AED in hallway outside of main office

Linderman - with AEDs in hallway outside of health office and hallway outside of main entry doors to gymnasium

Middle School - with AED on wall inside first set of doors to the gymnasium and in health office

High School - with AEDs on wall outside of main doors to gymnasium and on counter in health office

• Do not leave individual alone

• After administration 911 must be called as effects are temporary

Training

• View videos below to obtain general knowledge of what an opioid overdose is and what is naloxone

• View first 3:45 minutes of manufacturer's training video to learn how to administer Narcan

• Practice Narcan is available - contact school nurse to set up demonstration and practice

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022, April 21). What is naloxone? https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/naloxone

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Opioid overdose prevention toolkit. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/d7/priv/sma18-4742.pdf

Centers for Disease Control. (2022, May 23). Opioid basics. https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/index.html

SEIZURE

What is epilepsy?

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where bursts of electrical activity in the brain can cause seizures

What is a seizure?

• A seizure is rapid bursts of irregular or excessive electrical activity in the brain that can affect how a person appears or behaves

What are the causes of seizures?

• A seizure DOES NOT mean the person has epilepsy

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that has been diagnosed by a physician and about 50% of people diagnosed know the cause (genetic, structural, immune, metabolic, or infection)

• A seizure can be a result of another medical problem (fever, blood sugar instability, head injury, brain trauma, stroke, drug withdrawal, reaction to medication, fainting, migraines, and/or other moment or sleep disorders)

What are the signs and symptoms of seizures?

• Staring and/or rapid eye blinking

• Confused/dazed

• Uncontrollable jerking/rhythmic movements of the arms, legs, and head

• Rigid body

• Loss of consciousness or awareness

• Breathing difficulties

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Falling suddenly for no apparent reason, especially when associated with loss of consciousness

• Unresponsive to noise or words for brief periods

What do I need to know?

• Know which students have epilepsy/seizure disorder/seizures

• Understand and have basic knowledge of seizure signs and symptoms

• Learn basic seizure first aid

Training

• View videos below to learn basic seizure first aid

• Review printable first-aid handout

• School nurse will contact staff members who will be assisting in direct care of students with epilepsy/seizures. Additional training will be provided.

• Contact your school nurse if you have any questions

Sources: Epilepsy Foundation. (2022). What is epilepsy? https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy

Children's Hospital of Michigan. (2019, November 18). Epilepsy signs and symptoms. https://www.childrensdmc.org/parents/patient-and-family-resources/patient-and-family-resources/epilepsy-signs-and-symptoms

TIPS FOR HEALTHY CLASSROOMS

• Try and set up a healthy classroom goal/expectation. As you know students strive to accomplish goals and meet your expectations. Help them accomplish this in your classroom by encouraging and making time for healthy practices. For example, drinking water, covering sneezes and coughs, and washing their hands with soap and water. Set a cleaning day for your classroom where each student cleans out and wipes down their desks, chairs, small group tables, large manipulative, etc. with antibacterial wipes. Have fun and be creative!

• Empower students to be healthy and take care of themselves. Give positive feedback when they make healthy food choices, good clothes choices, and take care of minor health issues on their own. Students can wash their own minor scrapes, hang nails, and papercuts and then apply their own band-aids in the classroom.

• If a student is vaguely complaining about not feeling good try drinks, rest, time out, or change of activity first before sending to the health office. You are responding to their need, but not rewarding them for being sick. Often a trip to the health office is a reward for getting out of what the student does not want to participate in during class.

• Student complaining of a stomach ache. Have student use restroom and/or have a snack before sending to the health office.

• As students experience normal life events such as loose teeth, old scrapes and bruises that are healing well, minor bumps at recess, invisible itches or scrapes try to assist them in the classroom before sending to health office.

• Allow the student to name or describe the problem/health issue. If they look unwell to you send them to the health office for an evaluation.

• The health office will gladly provide students with a change of clothes for bathroom accidents or for those who are truly in need of clothes. Students who continually forget appropriate clothing or make a poor choice (i.e. jumping in a puddle), should experience natural consequences for their actions. Reinforce positive choices and encourage remembering when a poor choice is made.

• Students need to get out and move! They need exercise and sunshine. Try and find alternatives to having kids stay inside for recess, unless it is medically necessary.

• Drink, drink , drink! Lots of water is needed to stay hydrated. Provide as many opportunities as possible for students to drink water. Most students are not getting the amount of fluids they need per day. This leads to headaches (frequent complaint in health office), constipation (cause of most stomach aches at school), dry mucous membranes, bladder infections, and dry itchy skin.

ATTESTATION