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Nurse Staff
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Email Notice: To reach a staff member via email please enter their
first name followed by a
period (.) followed by the
last name. Then
attach the following web suffix @sayrevillek12.net in your email application
ex. john.smith@sayrevillek12.net
To reach a nurse by phone, dial 732-525-5251 and enter the voice mailbox number listed below.
NURSES’ NOTES FALL 2007 DENISE BROWN, RN & GINNY KANIA, RN
Welcome back to SWMHS! The 07/08 school year is well underway and the nurses have begun the mandated state screenings. This year we are including student’s BMI as part of their height and weight screenings.
The BMI refers to the “body mass index” and is a calculation based on person’s height and weight that is used by health care professionals to determine potential health risks. People that are over the ideal BMI may be at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions. People under the ideal BMI may also face potential health risks.
Recent statistics have shown that childhood obesity is on the rise, putting children and adolescents at risk for these same health concerns.
Any student with a BMI outside of the ideal range will be notified of their BMI once we have all the calculations completed. If you do receive notification, please do not panic. Discuss this information with your health care provider.
Frequently small changes such as increasing physical activity, decreasing intake of “junk food” and increasing the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in one’s diet can have a very positive impact on weight.
Children and adolescents should never be placed on a very calorie restrictive diet unless supervised by a physician or other health care provider. They are still growing and their brains are still developing. Overly restrictive diets can interfere with normal growth and development. The goal should be life style changes that will promote health throughout life.
FIGHTING FLU
Once again we are approaching flu season and we all need to be aware of how we can prevent its spread. Flu season lasts from November through April, but there can be cases as late as May. The best time to receive the flu vaccine is October or November. Speak to your primary care provider, as the vaccine is the best defense against flu. The symptoms of flu are: fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches and stomach symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea). Flu is spread when a person coughs or sneezes. This creates a cloud of germs that other people breathe in. A person is contagious 1 day before they become ill and up to 5 days after the illness starts. We can all help stop the spread of flu. If possible receive the flu vaccine. Sneeze or cough into a tissue and make sure to throw the tissue in the garbage. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If you do develop the flu see your doctor within the first 2 days. There are antiviral medications he/she can prescribe that only work if you start taking them right away. Finally, if you have the flu stay home. We hope you have a healthy school year.
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