School nurses want parents to know these things

Many students spend more time in school than they do at home, and keeping them safe and healthy while at school is the primary responsibility of one particular staff member: the school nurse.

Along with parents, it is the job of the school nurse to educate students on how to stay healthy. We spoke to three registered nurses from schools around the metro — Patty Bohlender from Western Hills Elementary School, Emily Blackford at Southeast Polk Junior High School, and Des Moines Public Schools Health Services Supervisor Marci Cordaro — about what they felt was most important for parents to know about their children’s health while at school.

Keep children home when they are ill: Be sure to check the district guidelines when deciding whether or not to send your child to school, especially if they have been sick for consecutive days. In most metro districts, it is recommended that the child go at least 24 hours fever- and diarrhea-free before heading back to school.

Make sure children are dressed appropriately to go outside: Whether or not the temperature allows children to go outside for recess, nurses find some students are not dressed appropriately to spend time outside. Students can be susceptible to frostbite even in the short amount of time it takes to walk from the bus to the school doors. Every season, nurses recommend checking children for ill-fitting outerwear, broken zippers, detached hoods on coats, and holes in hats and gloves.

Hand washing is the most important habit: Parents are constantly reminded to teach their children good hand-washing habits, and some nurses believe that can start with parents setting a good example. If parents wash their hands before and after every meal, children will follow the same habits. Remember to remind children to not only wash their hands at home, but at school as well.

Make breakfast a priority: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Students who do not eat breakfast can experience stomach aches, headaches, nausea and dizziness. School-age children, elementary and high school, have bodies and brains growing quickly and often need this refueling in the morning. When they skip breakfast, they often do not have the nutrition needed for the school day to be successful. Many buildings in the district offer breakfast at school for the students to get their day started.

Choose healthy school lunch: When students are old enough to choose lunch options, from their main course down to dessert, nurses find they don’t always make smart choices. Talk to children about the value of a balanced meal and teach them what options might be good to choose for school lunch. Looking at the menu the night before and discussing healthy options can help students decide on their own and set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating.

Cover your coughs! The second-most prominent piece of advice from school nurses, especially in the winter months, is to cover your cough. The spread of germs can be stopped quickly if students cover their mouth when they sneeze or cough with the inside of their arm or elbow. If they do cover their cough with the palm of their hand, remind them that hand-washing is always the next step in order to keep germs away.

Practice good health prevention: Eating healthy, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest will keep both children and parents in their healthiest state. School nurses stress prevention, as healthy children often fight off sickness much quicker due to a healthier immune system.