Flu FAQ

WHAT IS THE FLU?

The flu is caused by the influenza virus, which infects the lungs, nose and throat.

Each year in the United States 5-20 percent of Americans fall ill to the flu. Children are two to three times more likely than adults to get sick with the flu.

HOW DOES FLU SPREAD?

The flu is usually spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing. Occasionally, people can get the flu from touching a germ-infested surface.

WHAT ARE COMMON FLU SYMPTOMS

Common symptoms of the flu include high fever, severe headache, muscle and body aches, exhaustion and dry cough. Children often have additional flu symptoms that are rare in adults, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

HOW DOES ONE AVOID THE FLU?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) the best way to prevent yourself from getting the flu is to get a flu vaccine. Other good health habits include: washing hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds; covering one's mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing (or give your cough a cold shoulder!); avoid sharing drinks, water bottles or silverware with others.

WHAT IF MY CHILD GETS THE FLU?

If you are concerned about your child may be experiencing flu symptoms, call your doctor early. Some children may benefit from a prescription antiviral medication. However, this medication should be taken within 12-48 hours after flu symptoms begin.

If your child has the flu, it is important for them to stay home from school, rest and drink plenty of fluids. Also, please let Mary Garrett RN know at 892-4325 or garrett@tatnall.org.

For additional information on the influenza virus, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.


This information was taken from the NASN (National Association of School Nurses) program, "Don't Get Sidelined By the Flu."

Health

Welcome!

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The Office of the Tatnall School Nurse and the Health Center are located in the Sedgely Building or Lower School.

As the school nurse, I am available to work with all students and families, in all divisions. I visit each division as needed and make daily visits to the Beekley Building in the late morning.

The health and well-being of each student directly impacts their ability to learn and grow as a Tatnall student. It is my goal for all of our students to be healthy and happy as they progress through their years at Tatnall!

Mary Garrett, R.N., B.S.N.
School Nurse

School and Sports Physicals

School Physicals

Preschool students, students in grades one, three, five,seven and nine, and all new students*, are required to submit the results of a physical exam completed within the past year.This information may be submitted on a copy of The Tatnall School Student Health Appraisal or on the Delaware School Physical Examination Form. All health and medical information will be kept in the Office of the School Nurse as part of the student’s confidential school health record. 

*It is required that new students submit their immunization record and results of a recent physical exam to the school nurse upon entering [enrolling?]Tatnall.

DIAA Sports Physical

The DIAA pre-participation physical evaluation and consent form must be completed for all athletes in grades seven through 12 before beginning any sport in the new school year. The DIAA pre-participation physical evaluation and consent form is a five page document. Pages one, two and four require a parent's or guardian's signature. Page five is a reference for you to keep. This physical evaluation must be completed after April 1, of the current year playing sports and runs through June 30, of the following year. These records are kept in the office of Fred Palfrey, Tatnall’s Athletic Trainer.

 

Immunizations and Screenings

Please submit with your student’s health appraisal form, documentation of the following:

 Immunizations

1. Five or more doses of DTaP, DTP or TD vaccine, unless the fourth dose was given after the fourth birthday (in that case, a fifth dose is not required). A booster dose of Td or Tdap (adult) is recommended for all students at age 11 or five years after the last DTaP, DTP or DT dose was administered, whichever is later.

2. Four doses of IPV or OPV, unless the third dose was given after the fourth birthday (in that case, a fourth dose is not required).

3. Two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.The first dose should be administered on or after the age of 12 months; the second dose should be administered after the fourth birthday. Disease histories for measles, rubella and mumps will not be accepted unless serologically confirmed.

4. Three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine (unless commenced after age 11, in which case two doses of the CDC approved vaccine may be given).

5. Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, all students new to The Tatnall School will be required to have had TWO doses of varicella (chicken pox) vaccine or documentation of a history of the disease as reported by a health care provider. For students older than 13 who have had no previous varicella vaccination and who have no documented history of the disease, TWO doses of varicella vaccine will be required. For other students, one dose of varicella or documented history of the disease is required.

Lead Screening

All Preschoolers and kindergartners are required to have the results of blood lead screening on file at school.

TB Screening

All children entering school for the first time or re-enrolling after traveling out of this country must show proof of tuberculin screening results.

 

Illness

Anyone with a fever greater than 100-degrees or the diagnosis of a contagious illness such as strep throat or conjunctivitis should remain home from school or work until they are fever-free for 24 hours. Students who have vomited or had diarrhea should remain home until they are free of symptoms for 24 hours.

Any student who becomes sick while in school will be seen by the nurse before being sent home.  The school nurse will then contact the student’s parents to arrange for the student to be picked up.  Any Upper School student who is driving to and from school is not permitted to leave the campus, when sick, until the nurse has contacted his/her parents.

 

Medications at School

Many children need medication during the school day. All prescription and over-the-counter medications are dispensed by the school nurse and must be sent to school in the original container. (Your pharmacist can prepare a second prescription bottle to be left at school, if needed.) 

Nonprescription medications may be given to students with written parental permission.

We do stock some nonprescription medications in the nurses’ office such as Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Benadryl, Tums and Neosporin.You may send in to the nurse any specific nonprescription medication your child might need.  Please send the medication in its original container and with instructions.

All medications must be kept in the office of the school nurse with the exception of asthma rescue inhalers and EpiPens. Those students who carry medications for the treatment of asthma and/or severe allergies are required to notify the school nurse and the athletic trainer (if the student plays a Middle or Upper School sport), that they are doing so. It is important to verify that the student understands how to use the medication and when to seek additional help from an adult.  

Please contact me regarding your student and his or her medication needs. I will work closely with you to insure that your student takes his/her medication as prescribed and has access to it during the school day, if necessary.

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