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Granville Elementary School
310 N. Granger Street
Granville, OH 43023
Phone: 740-587-8102
Fax: 740-587-2374
Granville Nurse's Blog
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National Drug Take Back Day
Posted 10/27/2017 at 3:22:21 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

LCHD encourages you to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs at local disposal locations.


National Drug Take Back Day | Disposal Bin Locations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 10/27/2017 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO –

The Licking County Health Department (LCHD) joins the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in recognizing this Saturday, October 28 as National Drug Take Back Day. Take Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs.

Under Ohio law, only law enforcement agencies and pharmacies can be utilized as prescription drug drop off locations. LCHD encourages you to dispose of unused, unwanted, and expired prescription drugs locally through the Licking County Prevention Partnership (LCPP) managed safe medication disposal permanent Rx Collect Drop-off bin locations.


Licking County residents can anonymously drop off medications at any of the following seven drop off locations during regular business hours.

  • Licking County Sheriff’s Office; 155 E. Main St., Newark

    •  

  • Newark Police Department; 39 S. 4th St., Newark

    •  

  • Pataskala Police Department; 430 S. Main St., Pataskala

    •  

  • Johnstown Police Department; 599 S. Main St., Johnstown

    •  

  • Hebron Police Department; 934 W. Main St., Hebron

    •  

  • Granville Police Department; 141 E. Broadway, Granville

    •  

  • Heath Police Department; 1287 Hebron Rd. Heath

    •  

Residents should place all medications in a clear Ziploc bag and take it to the nearest drop off location. At some locations, individuals will hand the unwanted medications to an attendant. No questions will are asked and confidentiality remains a priority.

Items accepted for disposal in the RX Collect Bins are:

  • Unused or expired prescription drugs

    •  

  • Over-the-Counter medications

    •  

  • Pet medications

    •  

  • Vitamins and supplements

    •  

  • Ointments, creams, lotions

    •  

  • Liquid medications such as cough syrup

    •  

Items NOT accepted for disposal in the RX Collect Bins are:

  • Needles, syringes, lancets or other sharps

    •  

  • Inhalers

    •  

  • IV Bags

    •  

  • Thermometers

    •  

  • Hydrogen Peroxide

    •  

  • Bloody or infectious waste

    •  

The Licking County Health Department accepts sharps (needles, syringes, lancets) for disposal from households (with a $5 container disposal fee). We cannot accept any medications for disposal.

Licking County Health Department Media Contact:

Olivia Biggs, Public Information Officer
[email protected] | (740) 349-6488


"The Licking County Health Department serves more than 160,000 citizens in the Licking County General Health District by preventing disease, protecting the environment and promoting healthy lifestyles with a vision of healthy people living in healthy communities."


 

Alert: New Epipen Recall in US
Posted 4/3/2017 at 2:58:46 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Update on Meridian's Voluntary Worldwide Recall of EpiPen® Auto-Injector

(as of April 3, 2:30PM ET)

If you think you may be impacted by this recall, it is very important that you first contact Stericycle at 877-650-3494. Stericycle’s hours of operation are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-10 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

We are aware that callers may be experiencing extended wait times and expect it to decrease over the course of the day. Thank you for your patience. 

  • Prior to calling Stericycle, you can confirm if you are in possession of a recalled EpiPen product by checking if the lot number matches any of the lot numbers listed in the table below. If so, you need to contact Stericycle at 877-650-3494. If not, your EpiPen product is not affected by the recall and there is no further action necessary.
  • Stericycle will ask you questions about your EpiPen 2-Pak® or EpiPen Jr 2-Pak® cartons to confirm if the devices come from one of the recalled lots.
  • If you are in possession of a recalled EpiPen product, Stericycle will initiate the process of providing a container to return the recalled medication.
  • Stericycle will provide you with a voucher code to redeem a free replacement product. If you called before Monday afternoon, Stericycle will follow-up with your voucher code via phone or email beginning Tuesday, April 4.
  • Upon receipt of your voucher, call your pharmacy to inform them that you have a voucher for your free replacement of the product. Your pharmacy can check to see if you have a fillable prescription for EpiPen Auto-Injector or Mylan’s authorized generic for EpiPen on file. Additionally, the pharmacist can make sure that they have the medication in stock. Your pharmacist may need to contact your prescriber for a new prescription.  
  • Patients should not return any devices affected by the recall until they have received their voucher to redeem their free replacement from their pharmacy. It is important that patients continue to carry their current EpiPen Auto-Injector until they receive a replacement device.

Patients may receive either EpiPen Auto-Injector or Mylan’s authorized generic for EpiPen Auto-Injector at the pharmacy as a replacement based on availability. The authorized generic has the exact same drug formulation, has the exact same operating instructions and is therapeutically equivalent to EpiPen Auto-Injector, and may be substituted for EpiPen Auto-Injector.

Mylan is committed to replacing recalled devices at no cost and Mylan would like to reassure patients that there will be no additional replacement-related financial burden to them as a result of this recall.

Please check back here for any updates and additional information on the product return and replacement process.

Recall Details

Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer company and Mylan’s manufacturing partner for EpiPen® Auto-Injector, has expanded a voluntary recall of select lots of EpiPen (epinephrine injection, USP) and EpiPen Jr® (epinephrine injection, USP) Auto-Injectors to now include additional lots distributed in the U.S. and other markets in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall impacts certain lots of the 0.3 mg and 0.15 mg strengths of EpiPen Auto-Injector. None of the recalled lots include the authorized generic for EpiPen Auto-Injector, which is also manufactured by Meridian Medical Technologies.

The lot number is located on both the 2-Pak carton and the auto-injector. If the recalled EpiPen® Auto-Injector is still contained in the carton, refer to the left flap on the carton, which is black in color. You will find the lot number written in white and preceded by the word ‘LOT.’

On the auto-injector itself, you will find the lot number towards the top of the label in black and preceded by the word ‘LOT.’

NOTE: The NDC on the box ends with “2” because it contains two EpiPen Auto-injectors. The NDC on the individual EpiPen within the box has an NDC ending in “1.”

Additional Information

For additional information, please see the press release.

Patient and Customer Contact

To return your product, please contact Stericycle at 877-650-3494. If you have any additional questions regarding this recall, please contact Mylan Customer Relations at 800-796-9526 or [email protected].

Product Images

The flu has arrived at GEVSD!
Posted 2/21/2017 at 8:47:00 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Flu Cases Spiking Across the United States: CDC

Hospitalizations and deaths among kids and adults on the rise
Friday, February 10, 2017
HealthDay news image

FRIDAY, Feb. 10, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Flu activity spiked sharply across the United States this week, federal health officials reported Friday.

Deaths from flu-related conditions continued at high levels, and hospitalizations among people over 65 and under the age of 4 are up. So far, 20 children have died from flu, said Lynnette Brammer, an epidemiologist for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"More children have died this year than at the same time last year," said Brammer. "This may end up being a bad year for kids, but we just don't know yet. Deaths look high for this year because last year was light. A lot of this is timing."

Overall last year, 128 children died from flu-related complications, according to the CDC.

Hospitalizations among people in their 50s and 60s are also increasing, and may actually be outpacing those for children, the CDC reported.

Health officials noted it's still not too late to get a flu shot. That's particularly important for the most vulnerable -- the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and the chronically ill.

"It would have been better to get vaccinated in October, and you may want to think about that next year, but you can still get vaccinated and see benefit from it," Brammer said.

Flu activity is especially severe in the South and some Midwestern states and in the East, particularly in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, according to the CDC.

Brammer is still hoping to see flu activity peak later this month, but infections could continue to increase until March. "You just don't know," she said. "You won't know you've seen a peak until a couple of weeks after it happened," she explained.

The dominant flu strain continues to be H3N2, which often signals a severe season that affects the oldest and the youngest the most. H1N1 and B viruses are also circulating, Brammer said.

This year's vaccine contains all the circulating viruses, she said.

The CDC recommends that anyone aged 6 months and older get a flu shot. Besides the elderly and the chronically ill, pregnant women also fall into the high-risk group in need of vaccination.

Also, mothers of newborns need a flu shot to help protect their infants, who can't be vaccinated until they're 6 months old.

For people aged 65 and older, the extra-strength vaccine is a good idea, Brammer said. It comes in two types: the high-dose vaccine, and the adjuvanted vaccine.

Most years, the vaccine is between 40 percent and 60 percent effective, according to the CDC.

If you do get sick, there are antiviral drugs that can help. Tamiflu and Relenza are effective if taken early.

In a typical flu season, flu complications -- including pneumonia -- send more than 200,000 Americans to the hospital. Death rates fluctuate annually, but have gone as high as 49,000 in a single year, according to the CDC.

SOURCE: Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., epidemiologist, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

HealthDay
Copyright (c) 2017 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Message from Licking County Health Department
Posted 12/16/2016 at 8:27:06 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Date: December 15, 2016

 

Dear Parents:

 

One or more children or teachers in your school have been diagnosed with Pertussis (Whooping Cough).

 

 Pertussis is a bacterial respiratory disease that spreads easily and can be very serious especially in those with compromised immune systems.

 

Symptoms:

 

Cold-like symptoms, runny nose, sneezing, fever, and cough. About 1-2 weeks later, the cough worsens and patients develop burst or rapid coughing may be followed by a high-pitched ‘whoop”. These coughing fits usually last from 1-6 weeks. Symptoms usually start 7 to 10 days, with a range of 4 to 21 days, after exposure to an infected person.

 

Transmission:

 

Pertussis is spread through close or direct contact with respiratory secretions of an infected person. A close contact can include persons who have direct contact with respiratory secretions from a symptomatic person or have shared the same confined space in close proximity with a symptomatic person for greater than an hour. A person can transmit Pertussis from the onset of symptoms to three weeks after the onset of coughing. With appropriate antibiotic treatment, the period of communicability can be reduced to five days. 

 

Action Steps:

 

  • Symptomatic children should be excluded from school until they test negative for Pertussis or have completed 5 days of appropriate antibiotics.

  • Refer any symptomatic children or staff to their physician for testing.

  • Check immunization records. If a child is not up to date or his/her last dose of Dtap was more than 3 years ago, he/she should see a physician for vaccination.

  • Recommend that all household members and teachers between the ages of 10 and 64 years receive one dose of Tdap if their last tetanus booster was given more than two years ago.

            

    If you have questions, please call Gale Neville, Infectious Disease Nurse at 740-349-6515.

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Gale Neville, RN

    Infectious Disease Nurse

    Licking County Health Department

    Phone: (740)349-6515

    Fax: (740)349-6510

    Email:  [email protected]

What is Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease?
Posted 10/10/2016 at 1:45:26 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

As you may already have heard, hand, foot and mouth disease as been spreading throughout the country and Granville Schools are not exempt from this. While this has been typically a disease of preschoolers age five and younger, this year it is hitting older children, college students and even some adults.

If your child develops the disease, you may notice a raised rash, particularly on the palms, soles, and area surrounding the mouth. The disease also causes sores on the inside of the mouth, making swallowing painful. Although less common, one may have sores on the elbows, knees and buttocks/genital area. The rash progresses to blisters, then scabs over. Oral secretions are infectious while sores are present. Good handwashing is very important to prevent the spread of this illness. Children may return to school when they are fever free for 24 hours and the mouth sores are healed and other sores are not draining or seeping.

 

INCUBATION

            Usually three to six days, from the time of exposure to the first signs of disease, which may be a fever, sore throat, poor appetite or an overall feeling of being unwell (malaise).

 

TRANSMISSION

The virus is passed by direct contact with the infected person’s respiratory secretion. It is passed indirectly through contact with items freshly soiled with the secretions from the infected person’s nose and/or throat.

 

COMMUNICABLE PERIOD

Oral secretions are infectious while sores are present. The virus may be found in the stool while the sores are present and up to a month after they disappear.

           

TREATMENT

None. As with any virus, rest, fluids and good nutrition. Although, your doctor may have recommendations for comfort measures for sores that may be painful in the mouth or throat.

 

PREVENTION OF SPREAD

Wash and disinfect, or discard, articles soiled with nose, throat or fecal discharges. Give careful attention to good handwashing after handling these items.

 

As with any disease, if your child should be ill with this disease, please notify your child’s teacher and/or the school office so that proper prevention measures can be taken. If you have questions, please call contact me at 587-8129, Mrs. Petryk at 587-8139 (GIS Clinic), GMS clinic at 587-8104, x 4004 or Mrs. Varrasso at 587-8105, x 5129 (GHS Clinic). Thank you for your help in this matter.


More information about Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease can be found at the CDC website here: http://www.cdc.gov/hand-foot-mouth/about/


 

Sincerely,

Gina Burdick, MSN, RN, LSN

740-587-8129

[email protected]                     


Back to school 2016-17
Posted 8/5/2016 at 9:45:24 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Dear Parents:

 

As we are starting to think about coming back to school for our kiddos, I want to remind you of the a few things the health clinics need, preferable by the first day of school.

 

  1. Any daily and as needed medications that your child will need during the school day that cannot otherwise be given at home. The prescription and over the counter forms can both be found here: http://www.granvilleschools.org/medications.aspx

  2. Any emergency medications as well as appropriate action plans and forms, i.e. inhalers, epipens, glucagon and diabetic supplies. Forms were sent home last June but please call if you have any questions or are in need of any forms.

  3. If your child has a health plan last year a new one for this school year was sent home in June to be reviewed with your physician. Please call with any questions or concerns or submit a completed one by the first day of school.

  4. Any updated immunization records need to be provided by the 14th day of school. Please submit as soon as possible. Just a reminder, we need a completed record for all new students including kindergarteners. All 7th graders need one Tdap and one meningitis vaccine. All 12th graders need two meningitis vaccines unless they meet the exceptions. Please call if you are unsure if we need records for your child.

 

Thanks you so much for helping us to ensure the safety of our students.

 

 

Gina Burdick, MSN, RN, LSN

District Nurse and GES School Nurse

Granville Exempted Village Schools

740-587-8129

 

What about that cough??!!??
Posted 3/3/2016 at 4:34:09 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Cough Talk: What Does All That Hacking Mean?

Author: Terry Barber, MD

No Comments

Published January 7, 2016 in: Diseases & Conditions, Infants & Newborns, Kids & Teens, Parenting, Pediatric News, Toddlers & Preschoolers, Urgent Care

Right now, there is probably at least one person in your household that has a cough. Coughs are often associated with the common cold and there’s little you can do, other than try to ease the symptoms. However, a lot of coughing, especially in babies under four months old, could be a sign of a serious illness. Here’s what to listen for:

BARKING COUGH. The distinctive ‘seal bark’ cough of croup is caused by inflammation of the voice box and throat. This can make it hard for your child to talk or breathe, and the symptoms can get worse at night. There isn’t medicine for croup – but keep your baby calm and let him breathe damp air (steam from a running hot shower or a cool mist humidifier). Go see your pediatrician if your child isn’t better within 10 days.

LOUD WHOOP. This could be Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough.” Outbreaks of this illness still pop up every few years despite widespread vaccination. In most cases, a baby will have no cold symptoms or fever, but will suddenly develop coughing fits where they can’t catch a breath. Some kids will ‘whoop,’ choke, or vomit after coughing. Your child can be given an antibiotic to fight the infection, but the cough may hang around for up to six weeks. This is what whooping cough sounds (and looks) like.

 WET, NIGHTIME COUGHS. Coughs usually get worse at night, especially when mucous drains from the sinuses down the back of the throat and into the lungs. If you can reduce the nasal congestion you can help decrease throat irritation and coughing.

DRY, DAYTIME COUGHS. This type of cough can be caused by infection – but also by physical irritation to the throat and lungs. Cold air, increased activity, fragrances, and indoor dust (stirred up by the furnace) can all trigger a dry cough. A persistent dry cough could mean allergies or asthma.

 COUGH CARE. Cough medicine is generally not recommended for children. Here are some other home remedies to try:

  • A spoonful of sweetness can suppress coughs. Don’t give honey to children under the age of one.

  • Cold humidifier. This can hydrate the air and help soothe irritated throats.

  • Warm salt water. Gargling with a briny brew can bring temporary relief.

    NEW CODEINE CAUTION! Just last month, an expert panel of pharmacists and physicians recommended that teenagers and children should not take prescription or OTC products that contain codeine, including cough syrup. The committee said that codeine can cause breathing problems in some kids and may not even help reduce coughing. Talk to your doctor about what they recommend.

    No matter what kind of cough your child has – if it is accompanied by a fever of more than 102°F, or goes on longer than three weeks, it’s time for a trip to the doctor’s office. If your child turns blue with any coughing spell or is having difficulty breathing, go to the Urgent Care or ER immediately!

    Terry Barber, MD

    About Terry Barber, MD

    Terry P. Barber Sr., MD, is the Medical Director of off-site Urgent Care Centers and an attending physician at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Westerville Close To HomeSM Center’s Urgent Care and a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He is also on the Board of Directors and President-Elect of the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Chair of the Child Health Finance Committee and Legislative Affairs Committee.

     

What is the Parainfluenza virus?
Posted 11/18/2015 at 9:23:38 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

Many children are now given the diagnosis of Parainfluenza and many parents are confused if this is a type if the flu or influenza that we are all used to hearing about. In severe cases, it does seem to mimic the flu with high fevers and cold symptoms. So what is Parainfluenza? Is it like the flu? Is it just a bad cough? The answer maybe yes to both.

According the CDC, human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) commonly cause upper and lower respiratory illnesses in infants and young children, but anyone can get infected. After you get infected, it takes about 2 to 7 days before you develop symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms of upper respiratory illness may include fever, runny nose and cough. Symptoms of severe lower respiratory illness may include

  • croup [an infection of the vocal cords (larynx), windpipe (trachea) and bronchial tubes (bronchi)],

  • bronchitis (swelling of the main air passages that connect the windpipe to the lungs),

  • bronchiolitis (swelling in the smallest air passages in the lungs), or

  • pneumonia (an infection of the lungs).

Young children are more likely to have severe illness, but older adults and people with weakened immune systems are also at risk.

Other symptoms of HPIV illness may include sore throat, sneezing, wheezing, ear pain, irritability, and decreased appetite.

You can have multiple HPIV illnesses in your lifetime.

Transmission

Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) usually spread from an infected person to others through-

  • the air by coughing and sneezing,

  • close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands, and

  • touching objects or surfaces that have HPIVs on them then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

HPIVs can stay in the air for over an hour and on surfaces for a few hours and still infect people depending on the environmental conditions.

Prevention

Currently, there is no vaccine to protect you against human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) infection. However, researchers are trying to develop vaccines.

You may be able to reduce your risk of HPIV and other respiratory viral infections by—

  • washing your hands often with soap and water,

  • avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, and

  • avoiding close contact with people who are sick.

Frequent hand washing is especially important in childcare settings. For information about hand washing, see CDC’s Clean Hands Save Lives!

Breastfeeding may protect babies from HPIVs during their first few months of life. That’s because mothers may have protective antibodies to HPIVs in their breast milk.

If you are sick with HPIV illness, you can help protect others by—

  • staying home while you are sick,

  • avoiding close contact with others,

  • covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and

  • Keeping objects and surfaces clean and disinfected.

http://www.cdc.gov/parainfluenza/about/index.html

 

 

Allergy update and tips from Quest Diagnostics
Posted 10/22/2015 at 10:55:15 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

When is peak allergy season

Quest Diagnostics
3 Giralda Farms
Madison, NJ 07940 USA
See below for information regarding back to school immunizations from Licking County Health Department
Posted 8/17/2015 at 9:25:29 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

 

Now is the best time to get children their back-to-school immunizations

07/21/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – Back-to-school season is quickly approaching. Parents will be busy getting school clothes and school supplies for their children. Immunizing your child now will help avoid the last minute rush, and protect them against vaccine-preventable disease.
 
Parents should contact their health care provider or the Licking County Health Department to ensure all required immunizations have been provided to their child prior to the first day of school. Children who go to school without the required vaccinations risk being excluded from school until all requirements are met. They also risk becoming ill.
 
Incoming kindergarten students are required to have:
•           2 doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccination (MMR),
•           2 doses of the Varicella vaccination (chickenpox),
•           3 doses of the Hepatitis B vaccination,
•           3 - 4 doses of the Polio vaccination (IPV), and
•           4-5 doses of the DTaP vaccination (whooping cough).
 
Incoming seventh-grade students are required to have:
•           1 dose of the TDaP vaccination (whooping cough).
 
Whooping cough (pertussis) has made a comeback in recent years; vaccination will protect your child and family members. Additionally, the HPV vaccination (an anti-cancer vaccine) and the meningitis vaccination are recommended for seventh-grade students.
 
Don’t delay – call your health care provider or the Licking County Health Department today. The Health Department’s Immunization Clinic can be reached at (740) 349-6535 for an appointment.
 
The Health Department’s Immunization Clinic accepts most major insurance providers. When scheduling the appointment, ask the staff if you are unsure about insurance coverage. No child will be turned away for inability to pay.
 
For more information, visit the nursing page on www.lickingcohealth.org, or ask your health care provider.
 

 

 

“The Licking County Health Department serves more than 160,000 citizens in the Licking County General Health District by preventing disease, protecting the environment and promoting healthy lifestyles with a vision of healthy people living in healthy communities.”

 
Spring Cleaning includes your medicine cabinets
Posted 6/3/2015 at 2:16:17 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

        

 

 

 

This is a great take-action-today tip to read and share with family, friends and parent networks. The more people rid their homes of unwanted, unneeded and expired medications, the less likely such drugs will inadvertently make their way into the hands of our students.

Know! To Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet

Spring is here and for many of us that means spring cleaning. Time to clear out the winter clutter and freshen up our homes. As you are making your spring cleaning checklist, you are encouraged to add this potentially life-saving chore to your list:    

·         Clear out the Medicine Cabinet

Why is spring cleaning your medicine cabinet so important?

  1. Because the number of teens being admitted to hospitals and rehab facilities for prescription drug-related poisonings and addiction have reached epidemic levels, as well as the number of accidental adolescent deaths - tied to prescription drug overdose.
  2. Because nearly 1 in 5 teens report abusing medications that were not prescribed to them. The most widely abused drugs include painkillers, ADHD and anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills and cough syrup.
  3. Because the number one location where teens acquire these drugs is from the home medicine cabinets of family and friends.

There are three key steps to reduce the risk of medicine abuse in your home:
Secure, Monitor and Dispose.

SECURE: Avoid storing medications in an unprotected nightstand or kitchen cabinet or carrying them around in your purse or briefcase. Instead, secure your prescription and over-the-counter medications in a locked cabinet, drawer or safe that is inaccessible to your teens and their friends.

MONITOR: Make note of how many pills or the amount of liquid in each medicine bottle you have in your home. Keep track of refills and be sure you control any medication that is prescribed to your child.

DISPOSE: Limit the supply of drugs in your home by regularly clearing out your unused, unwanted and expired medications.

  • For safe and appropriate disposal of your medications, you are encouraged to take advantage of community drop boxes or drug take-back days. Click here to find a drop box near you.
  • To properly discard prescription drugs in household trash: remove medicine from the original container, mix with undesirable substance such as coffee grounds or kitty litter and place in a disposable plastic bag or other sealed container. Before placing in the trash, be sure to conceal or remove any personal information on the medicine bottle.

Clearing out your medicine cabinet as part of your springtime cleaning routine is ideal, but it can and should be done on a consistent basis. By limiting the access and availability of medications in your home, you immediately reduce the risk of teen drug abuse. Of course, regular and ongoing conversations with your children on this topic is also key: Remind your son or daughter of your strong disapproval of medicine abuse and make sure he or she is aware that prescription drugs are not a safe alternative to illegal street drugs; as they can be just as dangerous, addictive and damaging to one’s developing body and mind.

Talking regularly
with kids about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs reduces their risk of using.

Know! urges you to encourage other parents to join Know!.

Click here for the
Know! Parent Tip
Sign-Up Page. 

Know! is a
program of:

     

Lifetime Prevention
Lifetime Wellness

 

Drug Free Action Alliance
6155 Huntley Rd. Ste H
Columbus, Ohio 43229

  

Link to the Drug Free Action Alliance Facebook Page

 Ohio Department of Education

 

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Powered by GovDelivery
See below for a great resource for parents
Posted 4/29/2015 at 12:16:05 PM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

April E-News from the
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
 


Launch of the Marijuana Talk Kit

Between marijuana legalization, the normalization in pop culture and new ways of using, it’s becoming more complicated for parents to talk with their teens.

This month marked the launch of our brand-new Marijuana Talk Kit: How to Talk With Your Teen About Marijuana. The comprehensive guide equips parents with the facts about marijuana as well as real skills and examples that they can use to have meaningful, productive conversations with their kids.

Download your FREE Marijuana Talk Kit now >
 

TAKE ACTION tomorrow, 4/29: Help Get the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act Passed

Designed to respond both to today’s heroin and opiate epidemic and tomorrow’s threats, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) is an all-inclusive response to opiate and heroin addiction that includes prevention, law enforcement strategies, overdose prevention, expansion of evidence-based treatment and support for those in, or seeking, recovery.

You can help ensure that this important legislation receives the attention and support it deserves by participating in a special National Call-In Day tomorrow (Wednesday, 4/29). 

Learn more about CARA and take action now >
 


Free App Helps Parents Learn About the Most Commonly Abused Drugs by Teens 

Our complete Drug Guide for Parents is now available for quick and easy reference as a mobile app for Android phones and iPhones. Parents can now access vital information on drugs most commonly abused by teens right from their smartphones, including photos, slang terms and short- and long-term effects.

Learn more and download the free app now >
 


Get the Latest Substance Abuse/Addiction News Right in Your Inbox

For four years and counting, the Partnership’s Join Together News Service continues to keep readers informed about the top substance abuse and addiction news that impacts their work, life and community. Find in-depth explorations and expert commentary related to research, breakthroughs, emerging drug threats, policies affecting the substance abuse field and more, sent straight to your inbox each week.

Subscribe today > 
 

See below for a message from the Licking County Health Department
Posted 4/9/2015 at 11:20:27 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

03/27/15 LICKING COUNTY, OHIO – It’s tick season, and although it is important to take preventive measures against ticks year-round, Licking County residents should be extra vigilant in warmer months when ticks are most active. The Licking County Health Department reminds residents to protect themselves and their families from ticks this April through September.
 
“Protecting yourself and your family against ticks is an easy way to keep you and your family from getting really sick,” said Chad Brown, Licking County Health Department Director of Environmental Health. “Be sure to use the correct repellents and avoid areas with heavy brush and high grasses. Don’t forget to check your pets as well.”
 
During warmer months, people should avoid wooded and bushy areas with high grass and leaves where ticks live, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Walking in the center of trails where ticks are less likely to be is helpful. Use repellents that contain 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing for several hours of protection. When using DEET, always follow product label instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth.
 
Also, use products that contain permethrin on clothing, according to the CDC. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may be protective longer.
 

 

How do you prevent ticks from biting? Take action against them with these quick tips:

  • Shower after coming indoors to wash off and more easily find ticks that might be on you.
  • Conduct a full-body tick check using a mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair. Ticks like warm areas of the body.
  • Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats and backpacks.
  • Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks.

Ticks can cause health concerns. They are known to cause Lyme disease, southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and tularemia. Tickborne illnesses usually have an onset of fever and chills, aches and pains, and rashes.  
 
“Tickborne diseases can result in mild symptoms treatable at home to severe infections requiring hospitalization,” according to the CDC. “Although easily treated with antibiotics, these diseases can be difficult for physicians to diagnose.”
 
If you have questions or concerns about ticks and tickborne illness, contact the Licking County Health Department at (740) 349-6535, or visit the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/.

Update from Nationwide Childrens Hospital
Posted 9/5/2014 at 3:07:49 PM by tyler fluegel [System User]
The health clinic staff wanted make parents aware of the rare virus that is causing respiratory illnesses in central Ohio Children. This is a virus and the treatment is symptom management and staying hydrated. However, the virus seems to be hardest for those children with asthma and/or chronic respiratory illness. As with any respiratory illness, please consult your child's physician with any wheezing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Please see article below from the Columbus Dispatch:   

Rare virus might be causing central Ohio kids’ respiratory illnesses   

  
By The Columbus Dispatch  •       

Unusually high levels of respiratory illness have been reported this week in Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s emergency department, and samples are being sent out for testing to see whether a rare virus might be to blame.

“Obviously, it’s a concern,” Dr. Mysheika Williams

Roberts, medical director and assistant commissioner at Columbus Public Health, said of the volume of respiratory cases. “What we are experiencing is unusual for us this time of year.”

Last week, respiratory symptoms were the chief complaint of an average of 52 patients per day in the hospital’s emergency department. From Sunday through Tuesday of this week, respiratory symptoms were the chief complaint of an average of 73 patients per day, a 40 percent increase.

Some of those illnesses might be cases of human enterovirus 68, Roberts said. That virus apparently has sickened dozens of kids in the Kansas City, Mo., area, in recent weeks.

Nationwide Children’s officials said they hope the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can confirm whether any of the local hospital’s patients with respiratory problems are HEV68 cases.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many of Nationwide Children’s recent cases of respiratory illness might be caused by HEV68, nor was it clear how many possible HEV68 cases resulted in hospitalization.

The hospital is testing only severely ill patients for the virus, which usually is not fatal but can cause wheezing and shortness of breath. There is no vaccine.

Columbus Public Health said typical precautions help to prevent the spread of the virus, including washing one’s hands before touching the eyes, nose or mouth and avoiding kissing, hugging and sharing eating utensils with those who might be infected. Disinfecting surfaces also is prudent.

HEV68, first isolated in California in 1962, is a unique enterovirus that shares characteristics with human rhinoviruses.

The hospital yesterday had not implemented visitor restrictions, a spokeswoman said; they are common during the winter-flu season. The spokeswoman also noted that visits to emergency departments and urgent-care centers sometimes increase when school resumes.

Nationwide Children’s is the only children’s hospital in Ohio that has contacted the Ohio Department of Health about sending specimens, said spokeswoman Melanie Amato.

Meanwhile, the state Health Department is expected to announce that Ohio’s measles outbreak is officially over. As of yesterday, no new cases of measles had been reported in Ohio since July 23. The state had said it would consider the outbreak officially over when two incubation periods, or 42 consecutive days, had passed.

In all, 377 cases were reported in Ashland, Coshocton, Crawford, Highland, Holmes, Knox, Richland, Stark and Wayne counties. The outbreak started in April.

Measles cases are at a 20-year high in the United States, driven largely by the outbreak among unvaccinated Amish populations in Ohio.

[email protected]

@BenSutherly

2014 Influenza Update
Posted 2/7/2014 at 11:45:21 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]

02/07/2014

The Granville Exempted Village School District, Granville community, Licking County and Ohio are seeing widespread influenza activity (CDC, 2014). As your District Nurse, I wanted to provide you with the most updated information on this year’s flu activity and general tips for keeping you and loved ones healthy.

SHOULD I STILL GET THE VACCINE?

According to the CDC, only 39% of population has received the influenza vaccinations. This year flu season has just begun in Ohio and it is not too late to get a flu vaccine to protect you and your family. CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are testing specimens to determine which Type A and Type B viruses are causing the illness. Across the country, the 2009 Influenza A H1N1 has predominately been the virus identified. This strain has been linked to 97.3% of cases of as January 25, 2014 (CDC, 2014). This strain is also contained in this year vaccine so CDC is urging those that have not been vaccinated to get their flu shot. See below for information regarding the flu vaccine from Licking County Health Department.

Prevent seasonal flu: Get vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season.

There are several flu vaccine options for the 2013-2014 flu season.

Traditional flu vaccines made to protect against three different flu viruses (called “trivalent” vaccines) are available. In addition, this season flu vaccines made to protect against four different flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines) also are available.

The trivalent flu vaccine protects against two influenza A viruses and an influenza B virus. The following trivalent flu vaccines are available:

The quadrivalent flu vaccine protects against two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. The following quadrivalent flu vaccines are available:

(*”Healthy” indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.)

CDC does not recommend one flu vaccine over the other. The important thing is to get a flu vaccine every year.

When to get vaccinated against seasonal flu

Yearly flu vaccination should begin soon after flu vaccine is available, and ideally by October. However, getting vaccinated even later can be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before influenza begins spreading in their community.

Who Should Get Vaccinated This Season?

Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the United States to expand protection against the flu to more people.

While everyone should get a flu vaccine this season, it’s especially important for some people to get vaccinated.

Those people include the following:

  • People who are at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get sick with the flu.
    • People who have certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
    • Pregnant women.
    • People younger than 5 years (and especially those younger than 2), and people 65 years and older
  • People who live with or care for others who are at high risk of developing serious complications (see list above).
    • Household contacts and caregivers of people with certain medical conditions including asthma, diabetes, and chronic lung disease.
    • Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old.
    • Health care personnel.

Special Consideration Regarding Egg Allergy:

People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to eggs may be advised not to get vaccinated. People who have had a mild reaction to egg—that is, one which only involved hives—may receive a flu shot with additional precautions. Make sure your health care provider knows about any allergic reactions. Most, but not all, types of flu vaccine contain small amount of egg.

Use of the nasal spray seasonal flu vaccine

Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant. Even people who live with or care for those in a high risk group (including health care workers) can get the nasal-spray flu vaccine as long as they are healthy themselves and are not pregnant. The one exception is health care workers who care for people with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected hospital environment; these people should get the inactivated flu vaccine (flu shot).

Who should not be vaccinated against seasonal flu?

Influenza vaccine is not approved for children younger than 6 months of age.

People who have had a severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine should generally not be vaccinated.

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician.

These include:

  • People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with or without a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated), and
  • People with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.

References

Licking County Health Department. (2014). Flu information. Retrieved from: http://www.lickingcohealth.org/nursing/flu.html

CDC. (2014).Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Situation Update: Summary of Weekly FluView. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm.

Allergy relief for your child
Posted 9/23/2013 at 5:57:59 PM by Mary Guiher [staff member]

The health clinics at Granville Schools have seen a number of students dealing with allergies lately. In this blog, I include an article from the FDA  Consumer Updates, which discusses when parents should seek advice from their child’s healthcare professional.

 

Children are magnets for colds. But when the “cold” won’t go away for weeks, the culprit may be allergies. Long-lasting sneezing, with a stuffy or runny nose, may signal the presence of allergic rhinitis—the collection of symptoms that affect the nose when you have an allergic reaction to something you breathe in and that lands on the lining inside the nose.

Allergies may be seasonal, or they can strike year-round (perennial). In most parts of the United States, plant pollens are often the cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis—more commonly called hay fever. Indoor substances, such as mold, dust mites, and pet dander, may cause the perennial kind.

Up to 40 percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). And children are more likely to develop allergies if one or both parents have allergies.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines that offer allergy relief as well as allergen extracts used to diagnose and treat allergies.

Immune System Reaction

An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to a specific substance or allergen. The immune system responds to the invading allergen by releasing histamine and other chemicals that typically trigger symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, eyes, skin, or stomach lining, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

In some children, allergies can also trigger symptoms of asthma—a disease that causes wheezing or difficulty breathing. If a child has allergies and asthma, “not controlling the allergies can make asthma worse,” says Anthony Durmowicz, M.D., a pediatric pulmonary doctor in FDA’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products.

Avoiding the Culprit

If your child has seasonal allergies, you may want to pay attention to pollen counts and try to keep your child inside when the levels are high.

  • In the late summer and early fall, during ragweed
    pollen season, pollen levels are highest in the morning.

  • In the spring and summer, during the grass pollen
    season, pollen levels are highest in the evening.

  • Some molds, another allergy trigger, may also be
    seasonal. For example, leaf mold is more common in the fall.

  • Sunny, windy days can be especially troublesome for
    pollen allergy sufferers.

It may also help to keep windows closed in your house and car and run the air conditioner when pollen counts are high.

Allergy Medicines

For most children, symptoms may be controlled by avoiding the allergen, if known, and using OTC medicines. However, if a child’s symptoms are persistent and not relieved by OTC medicines, it is wise to see a health care professional to assess your child’s symptoms and see if other treatments, including prescription medicines, may be appropriate. Five types of drugs are generally available (see table below) to help bring your child relief.

While some allergy medicines are approved for use in children as young as six months, Dianne Murphy, M.D., director of FDA’s Office of Pediatric Therapeutics, cautions, “Always read the label to make sure the product is appropriate for your child’s age. Just because a product’s box says that it is intended for children does not mean it is intended for children of all ages.” “Children are more sensitive than adults to many drugs,” adds Murphy. “For example, some antihistamines can have adverse effects at lower doses on young patients, causing excitability or excessive drowsiness.”

More Child-Friendly Medicines

Recent pediatric legislation, including a combination of incentives and requirements for drug companies, has significantly increased research and development of drugs for children and has led to more products with new pediatric information in their labeling. Since 1997, a combination of legislative activities has helped generate studies in children for 400 products.

Many of the older drugs were only tested in adults, says Durmowicz, “but we now have more information available for the newer allergy medications. With the passing of this legislation, there should be more confidence in pediatric dosing and safety with the newer drugs.”

The legislation also requires drugs for children to be in a child-friendly formulation, adds Durmowicz. So if the drug was initially developed as a capsule, it has to also be made in a form that a child can take, such as a liquid with cherry flavoring, rapidly dissolving tablets, or strips for placing under the tongue.

Allergy Shots

Children who don't respond to either OTC or prescription medications, or who suffer from frequent complications of allergic rhinitis, may be candidates for allergen immunotherapy—commonly known as allergy shots. According to NIAID, about 80 percent of people with allergic rhinitis will see their symptoms and need for medicine drop significantly within a year of starting allergy shots. After allergy testing, typically by skin testing to detect what allergens your child may react to, a health care professional injects the child with “extracts”—small amounts of the allergens that trigger a reaction. The doses are gradually increased so that the body builds up immunity to these allergens.

Allergen extracts are manufactured from natural substances, such as pollens, insect venoms, animal hair, and foods. More than 1,200 extracts are licensed by FDA.

Some doctors are buying extracts licensed for injection and instructing the parents to administer the extracts using a dropper under the child’s tongue, says Jay E. Slater, M.D., director of FDA’s Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products. “While FDA considers this the practice of medicine (and the agency does not regulate the practice of medicine), parents and patients should be aware that there are no allergenic extracts currently licensed by FDA for oral use.” “Allergy shots are never appropriate for food allergies,” adds Slater, who is also a pediatrician and allergist. But it’s common to use extracts to test for food allergies so the child can avoid those foods.

Transformation in Treatment

“In the last 20 years, there has been a remarkable transformation in allergy treatments,” says Slater. “Kids used to be miserable for months out of the year, and drugs made them incredibly sleepy. But today’s products are outstanding in terms of safety and efficacy.”

Forgoing treatment can make for an irritable, sleepless, and unhappy child, adds Slater, recalling a mother saying, after her child’s successful treatment, “I didn’t realize I had a nice kid!”

FDA-Approved Drug Options for Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever) in Children                     


 

Drug Type


 
 

How Used


 
 

Some Examples of Over-the-Counter (OTC) or Prescription
  (Rx) Drugs (many are available in generic form)


 
 

Common Side Effects


 

 

Nasal
  corticosteroids


 
 

Usually
  sprayed in nose once a day


 
 

Rx:


 

      
  • Nasonex (mometasone furoate)

    •   
  • Flonase (fluticasone
           propionate)

    •  

 
 

Stinging in nose


 

 

Oral and topical antihistamines


 
 

Orally (pills, liquid, or strip
  placed under the tongue), nasally (spray or drops), or eye drops


 
 

Oral OTC:


 

      
  • Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

    •   
  • Chlor-Trimeton
           (chlorpheniramine)

    •   
  • Allegra* (fexofenadine)

    •   
  • Claritin* (loratadine)

    •   
  • Zyrtec* (cetirizine)

    •  

 

Oral Rx:


 

      
  • Clarinex (desloratadine)

    •  

 

Nasal Rx:


 

      
  • Astelin (azelastine)

    •  

 

* non-sedating


 
 

Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness


 

Some nasal sprays may cause a
  bitter taste in mouth, headache, and stinging in nose


 

 

Decongestants


 
 

Orally and nasally (some-times
  taken with antihistamines, which used alone do not treat nasal congestion)


 
 

Oral Sudafed (pseudoephedrine*),
  Sudafed PE (phenylephrine)


 

Oral Rx:


 

      
  • Allegra D, which has both an
           antihistamine (fexofenadine) and decongestant (pseudoephedrine*)

    •  

 

Nasal OTC:


 

      
  • Neo-Synephrine
           (phenylephrine)

    •   
  • Afrin (oxymetazoline)

    •  

 

* Drugs that contain
  pseudoephedrine are non-prescription but are kept behind the pharmacy counter
  because of their illegal use to make methamphetamine. You’ll need to ask your
  pharmacist and show identification to buy these drugs.


 
 

Using nose sprays or drops more
  than a few days may cause "rebound" effect, in which nasal
  congestion gets worse


 

 

Non-steroidal nasal sprays


 
 

Nasally used 3–4 times a day


 
 

OTC:


 

      
  • NasalCrom (cromolyn sodium)

    •  

 

Rx:


 

      
  • Atrovent (ipratropium
           bromide)

    •  

 
 

Stinging in nose or sneezing; can
  help prevent symptoms of allergic rhinitis if used before symptoms start


 

 

Leukotriene receptor antagonist


 
 

Orally once a day (comes in
  granules to mix with food, and chewable tablets)


 
 

Rx:


 

      
  • Singulair (montelukast
           sodium)

    •  

 
 

Headache, ear infection, sore
  throat, upper respiratory infection


 

This article appears onFDA's Consumer Updates page5, which
features the latest on all FDA-regulated products.

FDA Consumer Updates. (2011 Sep 29).
Allergy Relief for your child. Retreived from:http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm273617.htm.

For More Information



I'm Sick, Do I Have To Go To School?
Posted 3/12/2013 at 11:31:30 AM by Gina Burdick [staff member]


When your child ask you that, wouldn’t it be nice to be able to answer objectively? Well there are some guidelines to help parents make that decision. The Mayo clinic says children should stay home when they don’t feel well enough to participate in normal activities or lack sufficient alertness to learn or play. While this may vary from child to child, they do give some specific guidelines:
   -  Vomits in the past 24 hours
   -  Registers an oral temperature greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the past 24 hours.
   -    Has uncontrollable, phlegm-laden cough
   -    Has prolonged or serious difficulty breathing *
   -     Produces repeated bouts of diarrhea or bloody stools*
   -     Exhibits abdominal pain for more than two hours
   -     Has open sores on mouth
   -     Displays an unknown skin rash*
   -     Shows symptoms of contagious disease such as chickenpox, German measles, hepatitis, impetigo, measles, mumps, shingles, strep throat, or whooping cough (pertussis)*
   -     Reddened eyes with swelling, itching, burning matter in eye and crust on eyelids*
   -     Becomes infected with head lice or scabies*
   -     Abrupt onset of fever, chills, headache, sore muscles or unusual tiredness
   -     Sore throat with fever, red throat and pus spots on the back of the throat*

*while all these symptoms “may” require a physician’s visit, symptoms marked by an * DO require a physician’s visit.

Ear infections aren’t contagious, so if a child isn’t in much pain, going to school is OK, says Dr. Jeff Sperring, a pediatrician at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Furthermore, colds are most contagious very early in the illness. So Dr. Sperring recommends keeping them home early if they are having significant cold symptoms, like wheezing. Sneezing and/or a runny nose are not as significant.

There are things we as parents can do to help. Kids Health, School Network for Absenteeism Prevention suggests:
   -  Teach your kids when and how to wash their hands. A thorough hand washing after going to the bathroom and before eating will cut down on colds, diarrhea and other common
childhood illnesses.
   -  Teach your kids not to share certain items. Sharing foods can be dangerous for others with food allergies. Sharing water bottles, pens and other personal items spread germs. Lice are passed easily via hats and hair accessories.
   -   Communicate current information with your school office. Make sure to supply school office with current phone numbers (home, work and cell) in case needed in the event of
an emergency. Communicate with school nurse regarding any special health needs, either temporary or ongoing.
   -   Schedule annual physical exams.
   -   Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep. Aim for 9 to 13 hours per night, depending on their age.




INFLUENZA UPDATE
Posted 12/14/2012 at 12:05:39 PM by tyler fluegel [System User]

12/24/12

The Granville Exempted Village School District, Granville community, Licking County and Ohio are seeing widespread influenza activity (CDC, 2012). As your District Nurse, I wanted to provide you with the most updated information on this year’s flu activity and general tips for keeping you and loved ones healthy.

 

THE FLU SEASON

According to the CDC, flu activity has been seen across the country. The level of activity is higher for this time of the year in most parts of the country. In the Northern hemisphere, winter is the time for the flu. In the United States, the flu season can range from November to as late as May. During the past 24 flu seasons, months with the heaviest flu activity (peak months) occurred in November one season, December four seasons, January five seasons, February ten seasons, and March four seasons.

 

SHOULD I STILL GET THE VACCINE?

According to the CDC, only 37% of population has received the influenza vaccinations. While the district has seen a decrease in the number of student reports of the doctor confirmed flu this week, the flu has only begun in Ohio and it is not too late to get a flu vaccine to protect you and your family. CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are testing specimens to determine which Type A and Type B viruses are causing the illness. It is still very early in the season, but presently they feel that the majority of the Type A (H1N1 and H3N2) and Type B viruses circulating are part of the Northern Hemisphere vaccine for the 2012-2013 season (CDC, 2012).

 

THE FLU IS CONTAGIOUS

Most healthy adults may be able to infect others 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons can still spread the virus to others.

           

DO NOT GIVE ASPIRIN TO A CHILD OR TEENAGER WHO HAS THE FLU

Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms – and particularly fever – without first speaking to your doctor. Giving aspirin to children and teenagers who have influenza can be associated with a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome. Children or teenagers with the flu should get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids, and take medicines that contain no aspirin to relieve symptoms.

 

THE MYTH OF THE“STOMACH FLU”

Many people use the term “stomach flu” to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria, or even parasites. While vomiting, diarrhea, and being nauseous or “sick to your stomach” can sometimes be related to the flu – particularly in children- these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza. The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.

References

 

CDC. (2012).Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Situation Update: Summary of Weekly FluView.Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/summary.htm.



 

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