School Nurse

School Nurse

COVID-19 Information
What are the protocols for when a student has symptoms of COVID-19?
In accordance with the Part 3 Guidance issued by ISBE/IDPH: “CDC and IDPH guidelines for students who were suspected of having COVID-19, whether they were tested or not, state that 72 hours must elapse from the resolution of fever without fever-reducing medication and 10 days must pass after symptoms first appeared.” Symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, cough, chills, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches, stomachache, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste/smell. Click here to see the IDPH Guidelines.

If a student is experiencing the above symptoms, the student will be removed from the classroom, the parent/guardian will be notified to pick up their child in a timely manner, and the student will be taken to a quarantine space. Upon the parent/guardian’s arrival, the student will be escorted out of the building and brought to the parent/guardian’s vehicle.  

If a student or staff member tests positive or has symptoms when will classes have to isolate and for how long?
District 23 has developed procedures for the health and safety of our students and staff in place to follow the guidelines from the Illinois Department of Public Health to determine if an individual or a class or perhaps the school will need to quarantine. These procedures include notifying the parents and staff should the need for quarantine arise.  Names of individuals that have symptoms or that have tested positive will be kept private.

This is a great time to remind families to KEEP YOUR CHILD AT HOME IF THERE ARE EXPERIENCING ANY COVID-LIKE SYMPTOMS. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Sending your child to school with any of these symptoms may cause your child (and perhaps the entire class) to be quarantined for up to 14 days.

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Sick Kids Belong Home...Well Kids Belong In School...A Message From Your School Nurse

That sure sounds simple, but it's not that easy to tell how sick is sick. Here are some general guidelines to help you to determine which is which:

FEVER - Take your child's temperature if they are complaining of not feeling well or just don't look right.  Any temperature of 100 degrees or higher is considered a fever.  Children should remain out of school for the duration of the fever, plus an additional 24 hours after it is gone without the use of Advil, Tylenol, or generic-type medication.  This extra 24 hours really helps them to recover and gain the ability to fight off all of the other germs they will come in contact with back in school.

COLDS AND UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS - A child should stay home if they are feeling too sick to participate in their usual activities or coughing so much that they are tiring themselves out.  If a child can perform normal daily activities and is fever free they should be at school, even if they don't feel 100%.

DIARRHEA AND VOMITING - These symptoms require a child to stay at home.  Dietary modifications should be made as necessary.  Children should remain home until they have a solid/semi-solid bowel movement, or are able to maintain normal hydration and keep a meal down without vomiting.  When they return to school, it may be a good idea to bring a bland lunch from home and some extra liquids.

RASH - Multiple communicable diseases are accompanied by a rash.  Any child with an undiagnosed rash should be kept home until considered safe to return to school by a physician.

LICE - Head lice requires special attention.  Please notify the school's nurse and your physician for treatment options.  If you suspect that your child may have lice the nurse at school could help you check.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - Please report communicable diseases to the school (strep. throat, chicken pox, conjunctivitis, etc.) so that the nurse can notify the rest of the class with a general note.  Specific to MacArthur, no notes are sent home regarding every case, but if there is a large number of cases, parents may be notified.  All communicable diseases require medical attention and the child should remain at home until the period of time that the disease can be transmitted to another person has passed, and your child feels well enough to return.  Your physician can give you more specific parameters for each illness.

When in doubt, call your doctor for advice.  Please DO NOT send medication to school with your child.  If they need medication at school, parents and the physician must complete a medication administration form, and parents are responsible for transporting the medication to and from school.  If your child will not be at school, for any reason, please call the attendance line as soon as possible.  You may call at any time to leave a message.

Stay healthy and safe!

School Nurse

 

Monika Borkowski
[email protected]
(847) 870-5192

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