December 2002 - January 2003 Edition

Cough! Sputter! Sneeze!   by Mrs. Ann Lustgarten, Fifth Grade Teacher at the Radburn School   It's that time of year again and the problem once again arises in many homes in the morning. What do we do with a sick child? It's not only a problem for the poor sick child, but also for the parent who has to juggle his or her schedule, the classmates who get exposed to 'whatever' and the teacher who has to stay well to teach the others. What options do parents have? When should the options be put in place? When can you send the child and when MUST they stay home? It's tough; very tough! Parents should put a plan carefully into place well before the situation arises, perhaps even before school begins. Is there a parent who can take time off from work? Is there a grandparent who is willing to step in? (Think carefully here because older people are often more susceptible to illness.) Is there a close non-working friend with whom you can make an 'official' arrangement? What about an available adult babysitter? Often, as teachers, we see children coming to class whom are obviously symptomatic. If a child has already arrived at school, needs medical care and needs to be sent home, how much more disruptive this can be to the parent. It would be a better solution to have the plan in place and take care of the child in a non-emergency situation. Pink eye, chicken pox, colds and sinus infections, as well as various intestinal disruptions, have already shown up in classes this year. Many of these children were sent home from school, having told the teacher or the nurse, they were sick before they left home. Often, a minor illness can be caught early, if the child is given extra rest and relaxation, the old 'Drink plenty of fluids", and a lot of TLC. A child with a running nose and a sputtering cough puts all the rest at risk of contracting the same. A child treated early and returned to school when they are well, prevents further illness to that child and the other people with whom they come into contact. Make sure this winter season you keep your children well rested. Think carefully of the others with whom they come into contact. Put a plan in place. Teach them to blow their noses properly and dispose of their tissues carefully. They should learn to cover their mouths when they sneeze. One nurse suggests they be taught to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbows which helps prevent the hand-to-hand spread of viruses and bacteria. Teach them to wash their hands often - sick or well. An illness caught early and treated promptly will save all of us unnecessary time off with sick days.     See Mrs. Lustgarten's Previous Columns Scheduling After-School Activities  (October 2002) Back To School  (August 2002) Summer With the Kids  (June 2002) PTA/PTO Involvement  (April 2002) Telling The Teacher  (February 2002)