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Health Services
Head Lice
Whooping Cough - Pertussis
Swine Flu
Secondhand Smoke
California Healthy Kids Survey
HEALTH SERVICES FORMS
HEALTH SERVICES FORMS - Diabetic Care Packet
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| | | Recently, whooping cough was declared to be an epidemic in California by the State Department of Public Health. Whooping cough has been on the rise in Butte County. According to Dr. Mark Lundberg, county health officer, in the last month there have been five cases. The biggest concern is when the disease strikes infants, who can become severely ill. Whooping cough is caused by bacteria. It is characterized by persistent coughing, a symptom that can drag on for many weeks. | | For more information visit the Butte County website at: http://www.buttecounty.net/publichealth/cder/whooping.html |
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| | The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions. Parents will be asked to pick up students from school if they display flu-like symptoms. We are taking swift measures to avoid spread of germs, including encouraging the usage of hand sanitizers along with increased monitoring and cleaning of restrooms. Additionally, students can go to the Health Office on each campus if they need medical attention.
Basic precautions to help reduce the spread of swine flu include: - Stay home when you are sick, especially if you have fever
- You may want to contact your doctor if you have a fever of over 100 degrees.
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and properly dispose of used tissues.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer to get rid of most germs and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Stay healthy by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate rest and exercise.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
- Put used tissues into a rubbish bin.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth - germs spread that way.
- Be careful to wash hands often with soap and dry them thoroughly.
- Keep surfaces clean at home, school and work.
Anybody experiencing warning signs of severe influenza illness such as rapid breathing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe vomiting or if a child is not responding or is difficult to wake up, should get urgent medical attention. Symptoms also include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone. A doctor's exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication of the flu. There are tests that can determine if you have the flu as long you are tested within the first 2 or 3 days of illness. Your health care provider may prescribe anti-viral medication.
If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your healthcare provider. Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, and young children.
Information will be updated and available on the Butte County Public Health Information line at 1-866-444-2405. For more information in English and Spanish you may visit the following links:
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| | Secondhand smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particles that includes smoke from a burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe tip and exhaled smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been estimated to result in over one million illnesses in children in the United States including complications due to low birth weight, asthma, bronchitis, colds, and inflammation of the middle ear.
The United States Surgeon General has concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful. Opening a window, sitting in a separate area, or using ventilation, air conditioning, or a fan cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure. The only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100 percent smoke-free environments.
The ChicoUnifiedSchool District urges you to protect yourself and your loved ones by:
o Making your home and car smoke-free. (California law prohibits smoking any cigarette, pipe, or cigar in a moving or parked vehicle while any youth younger than the age of 18 is present [California Health and Safety Code (H&SC) sections 118947-118949].)
o Asking people not to smoke around you and your children.
o Ensuring your children’s day care center or school is enforcing smoke-free laws. (California law prohibits smoking in day care centers [H&SC Section 1596.795] and prohibits the use of tobacco products on school property if the school receives funding for tobacco use prevention education programs [H&SC Section 104420].- CUSD does receive state tobacco funding)
o Choosing restaurants and other businesses that are completely smoke-free. (California law prohibits smoking inside restaurants, but not outdoor seating [California Labor Code Section 6404.5].)
o Teaching children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
o Avoiding secondhand smoke exposure especially if you or your children have respiratory conditions, if you have heart disease, or if you are pregnant.
o Talking to your doctor or healthcare provider more about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family from secondhand smoke is to quit smoking. One resource to assist you in quitting is the California Smokers’ Helpline. You can contact the Helpline at:
· 1-800-NO-BUTTS (1-800-662-8887) (English)
· 1-800-45-NO-FUME (1-800-456-6386) (Spanish)
· 1-800-838-8917 (Mandarin & Cantonese)
· 1-800-778-8440 (Vietnamese)
· 1-800-556-5564 (Korean)
· 1-800-933-4TDD (1-800-933-4833) (TTD/TTY)
In the meantime, you can protect your family by making your home and vehicles smoke-free and only smoking outside. A smoke-free home rule can also help you quit smoking.
Should you have any questions about the Chico Unified School District] policies regarding tobacco-use on school grounds or for other resources to help you talk to your children about the health dangers from using tobacco, please contact Ann Brodsky, Tobacco Use Prevention Coordinator, at 530-895-2631.
Sincerely,
Ann E. Brodsky
Coordinator, Safe and Drug Free Schools
Chico Unified School District
abrodsky@mail.chicousd.org
530-895-2631 | |
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| | Under No Child Left Behind, our district is required to administer the California Healthy Kids Survey every other year to students in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11, and to all students who attend alternative education programs. This survey will be administered during the first part of December, and requires parent permission. If you have a child who is enrolled in one of the grades listed above, your childs school will be sending home a parent permission form (listed below) sometime in November for you to sign and return. Detailed information about the survey can be found on WestEds website at:
Copies of the surveys for each of the grade levels in English, and in Spanish and English, are provided below for your review. Should you have any questions, please contact Ann Brodsky, Safe and Drug Free Schools Office, at 530-895-2631.
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