Communicable Disease Inservice

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Communicable Disease Inservice

• Alisha Duke, RN
• Tammy Guinn, RN
• Tammy Fryar, RN

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Communicable Disease Control

• The school board works to cooperate with the
  Department of health in the prevention,
  containment, and reporting of communicable
  diseases.
• Students are required to have an up to date
  immunization record. Those not compliant are to
  be excluded from school according to state law.

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• Any student or staff member suspected of having a
  condition that can be spread by casual contact
  shall be excluded from school until cleared by
  the physician. Examples of this would include
  conjunctivitis (pink eye), ringworm, or head
  lice.
• When reliable evidence or information from a
  public health officer or physician confirms that
  a student/staff member is known to have a
  communicable disease or infection that is known
  not to be spread by casual contact, (i.e., HIV
  infection, Hepatitis B and other like diseases),
  the decision as to whether the affected person
  will remain in the school or employment setting
  shall be addressed on a case by case basis by a
  review panel to ensure due process.
• Any medical information that pertains to students
  or staff members, proceedings, discussions, and
  documents shall be confidential information.
• Universal precautions shall be practiced at all
  times. This means all blood/body fluids should
  be considered infectious. Personal protective
  equipment shall be used. This includes gloves,
  gowns, masks, or goggles as needed. These are
  provided to each school.

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Guidelines for sick students

• Any student with a fever greater than 100 degrees
  shall not be permitted to stay at school.
• Any student vomiting or having loose stools
  should not remain at school.
• Presence of abdominal discomfort not definitely
  explained as menstrual cramps, may signify
  appendicitis. The parent should be notified and
  urged to secure a medical opinion. Do not give
  food or drink.

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• Students with severe colds, productive coughs, or
  severe sore throats should not stay at school.
• Severe headaches or skin rashes could be
  indicative of an acute illness and the parent
  should be notified and encouraged to follow up
  with the childs physician.

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Hepatitis B Vaccine

• While working in the school setting, empolyees
  may at times be exposed to blood or other
  potentially infectious body fluids.
• Those employees who have the greatest risk of
  this will be offered the Hepatitis B Vaccine.
  This would include para professionals who come in
  contact with body fluids on a daily basis,
  custodians, school nurses, or those trained to
  give medications in the school setting.
• There is a declination form that must be signed
  by those who have been designated as high risk,
  yet do not consent to the vaccine.

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Post Exposure Protocol

• If an exposure to blood or body fluids does
  occur, the employee should wash the area exposed
  with warm, soapy water as soon as possible.
• The employee should notify his/her supervisor
  immediately.
• If the employee has not already received the
  Hepatitis B vaccine series, it will be
  recommended and offered within 24 hours.
• Follow- up with physician should occur after
  exposure to determine if further labs or
  interventions are needed.
• An incident report will need to be completed and
  forwarded to Debbie Finlay.

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Dirty Needle Stick Policy

• No employee of LaSalle Parish other than those
  trained in medication administration shall handle
  any sharps (needles, lancets, etc.).
• Those trained shall handle only when absolutely
  necessary such as emergency situations or
  assisting those unable to perform the procedure
  involving sharps themselves.
• Students who have been deemed competent to self
  test or self administer are responsible for
  disposing of their sharps properly. Failure to
  do so will require further counseling by the
  school nurse.
• Trained personnel are responsible for supervising
  the proper disposal of sharps and shall report
  any student who is not doing this properly.
• No one other than those who have been trained
  should be supervising self testing or self
  administration.
• There should be no other students or staff in the
  area where a sharps is being utilized.

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DNS Policy (cont)

• Accidents do happen and it is imperative they be
  reported immediately.
• If an exposure does occur, the area should be
  washed with soap and warm water immediately.
• Exposures shall be reported immediately to the
  direct supervisor.
• An accident report should be completed and
  forwarded to Debbie Finlay.
• The employee should then proceed to their
  personal physician for follow up care. If their
  physician is unavailable, they should proceed to
  the nearest emergency room. The physician
  treating the affected person shall determine any
  follow up labs, medications, or other care
  following current guidelines.
• The employee will be offered the Hepatitis B
  vaccine series if not already vaccinated.

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Work area restrictions

• Food nor drink should be present in areas where
  exposure to blood or body fluids are likely.

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Ringworm

• Ringworm is caused by a fungus that grows on the
  skin.
• Ringworm is characterized by a red ring of scaly
  skin that grows outward as the infection spreads.
• Ringworm is contagious and the parish policy
  states those suspected of having a ringworm are
  to be excluded from school until they are cleared
  by their physician to return. The area must be
  covered until completely healed.

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Staph Infections

• Staphylococci are very common germs (bacteria)
  often referred to as staph.
• This bacteria is commonly found on the skin of
  healthy individuals.
• Approximately one in three people are carriers
  of staph.

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• Staph can cause illness when the bacteria is
  introduced into the body through an injury or
  other skin break.
• A staph infection of the skin often looks like a
  pimple or boil.
• At times, staph is often mistaken as a spider
  bite.

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• Staph can appear anywhere on or in the body and
  can range from mild (skin infection) to severe
  (blood infection or pneumonia).
• Those with chronic illnesses or otherwise
  compromised immune systems are more at risk of
  developing a severe infection.

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• If a staph infection is suspected, follow up with
  a physician is recommended.
• A culture of the affected area is the only way to
  confirm the infection is caused by staph.
• The physician will determine effective treatment
  based on the culture. Antibiotics are often
  needed.

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What about school?

• Those with a confirmed staph infection may attend
  school as long as the affected area can be
  covered and any drainage can be contained with a
  dressing.

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PREVENTION

• Proper handwashing is the most effective way to
  prevent infection.
• Do not share personal items such as razors,
  towels, deodorants, etc.
• Shower after participating in any sporting event
  or practice.
• Dont pick at insect bites or other sores.
• Keep unaffected skin breaks covered, also. This
  prevents germs from entering the body.
• Disinfect any areas shared by numerous people.
  For instance, weight benches or other sports
  equipment.
• Once again. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  !!!!!!!!!!!

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Head Lice

• Our parish has a no nit policy for head lice.
  This means if lice or nits (eggs) are found on a
  childs scalp, they are to be sent home for
  treatment. They can not return to school until
  appropriate personnel have determined that all
  lice and nits have been removed form the scalp.
  School nurses can clear a student. There are
  also designated employees at each school who can
  allow a child to return if clear. Children can
  not ride the bus to school until they have been
  cleared to return by appropriate school pesonnel.
• Students who are found to have an infestation are
  given three excused absences for treatment.

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Back Safety and Injury Prevention

• PROPER POSTURE AND BODY MECHANICS CAN HELP
  PROTECT YOUR BODY, ESPECIALLY YOUR BACK, FROM
  PAIN AND INJURY
• There are 3 natural curves to your spine and it
  is important that you try to maintain these
  curves during activity and rest. Students should
  particularly pay attention to carrying heavy bags
  on one shoulder rather than using the support of
  both shoulders
• Back pain is usually the result of a number of
  contributory factors. Poor posture and faulty
  body mechanics are generally involved.

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Proper Body Mechanics

• Proper lifting Techniques
• Squat to lift and lower, do not bend at the
  waist only bend at the knees
• Keep the weight as close to you as possible
• If you must turn do it with your feet not body
• Keep feet apart and staggered if possible hips
  and shoulders should be parallel
• Wear shoes with non-slip soles
• Standing
• No high heels or platform shoes when standing
  for long time
• Dont stay in one position for too long. Change
  frequently or prop one foot on a block
• Keep stomach muscles tight
• Do not lock your knees
• Keep work at a comfortable level
• Be careful not to lean back or forward. Keep
  your body aligned.

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• Sitting Keep back straight, not rigid. Use a
  pillow for slight support of
• lower back No reaching across a table when
  seated Select a good chair and sit with feet
  flat on the floorLifting Always prepare for a
  lift. if its too heavy get HELP. Watch your
  line of balance Spread feet to get a comfortable
  broad base of support If moving in a sideways
  position, spread feet sideways If moving in a
  forward / backwards direction spread feet in the
• direction of the movement and
  distribute weight smoothly over
• feet. Try to arrange the lift
  so that you get maximum use of the muscles
  in your thighs and hips. Push yourself and the
  lifted
• object up.

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• Shifting Prepare for the shift Always push
  objects when possible. However, pulling is better
• than lifting Carry weight close to your
  body When possible move feet so that you face
  what you are doing rather than twisting or
  side bending If your work action is repetitive
  movement, stop occasionally and stretch and
  move your body in the opposite direction a
  few times to stretch the working muscles.

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Test