Vashon Island School District

Health Services Update

Life-threatening Health Conditions

Protect your health

• Hand washing• Flu shot• Tdap – booster to prevent pertussis/whooping cough

Is your classroom ready for a medical emergency?

1. Mini first aid kit: band aids + gloves + gauze pads2. Disaster first aid backpack3. Classroom emergency card4. School medical emergency protocol

• Call 911 if needed• Send 2 runners to office with emergency card, name of person &

nature of problem – 1 runner to class next door

Life-threatening Health Conditions

• Asthma

• Allergy – Anaphylaxis

• Diabetes

• Seizure

ASTHMA• Asthma tends to make a person’s

airways irritated and swollen or inflamed

• For students with asthma, breathing problems can turn into a serious emergency

• Exercise• Pollen• Mold• Dust• Carpeting• Strong odors • Animals • Cold air• Illness

PREVENTION: control triggers

• Coughing or itchy throat• Stuffy or runny nose• Funny or tight feeling in chest• Fatigue• Behavioral changes, agitation, irritability• Decreased appetite• Dark circles under eyes• Headache

Early Warning Signs

Sit, rest, use inhaler if self-carryOtherwise, escort to nurse

When to call 911

IF breathing is so difficult that the student has trouble talking or walking

OR the student’s lips or fingernails look gray or blue

OR the inhaler rescue medicine is not helping (breathing should improve within 15 minutes

after the first puffs from the inhaler)

If you call 911, stay with the student until help arrives

and call the office so that they can notify nurse and student’s parent or guardian

• Allergic shock or generalized allergic reaction

• An allergic reaction that can result in death due to airway obstruction or a severe drop in blood pressure

• An extreme total body reaction

Allergy – Anaphylaxis

Food• Milk• Eggs• Peanuts• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews,

walnuts)• Fish (such as bass, cod, flounder)• Shellfish (such as crab, lobster, shrimp)• Soy• Wheat

Wasp or Bee Sting

Other• Medications• Latex• Cold• Pollen

Common Causes of Anaphylactic Allergic Reaction

Follow the plan to avoid exposure to allergen

Reactions can be unpredictable, always be prepared

A child can have a very severe allergic reaction, even if previous reactions have been mild

Children with asthma are at risk for a more severe food allergy reaction

Changes in routine pose the greatest risk of exposure to allergens• Field trips• Birthday parties• Special events

A delay in getting help and the administration of epinephrine are believed to be a factor in fatal reactions -

Don’t hesitate. Medicate.

FaceItchiness, redness, swelling of face and tongue

AirwayTrouble breathing, swallowing or speaking

StomachStomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea

Total bodyRash, itchiness, swelling, weakness, paleness, sense of doom, loss of consciousness

Think F.A.S.T.

Give Epinephrine

Call 911

Hold firmly with orange tip pointing downward.

Remove blue safety cap by pulling straight up.

Do not bend or twist.

                                        Swing and push orange tip firmly into mid-outer thigh until you hear a “click.”

Hold on thigh for ten seconds.              

                               

Built-in needle protection

When EpiPen is removed, the orange needle cover automatically extends to cover the injection needle, ensuring the needle is never exposed.

Remove the EpiPen Auto-Injector from the carrier tube and follow these 2 simple steps:

DIABETES

Type 1 – Insulin Dependent Diabetes

Autoimmune disease  Body destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas Insulin is required by the body to use glucoseWithout insulin, body starves to deathShort and long-term consequences Serious disease that can affect academics and student health greatly Students with diabetes have legal rights – If no IEP will have 504 plan

What affects blood sugar?

• Insulin

• Foods eaten

• Exercise

• Illness

• Growth spurt

• Stress and any changes in routine

Diabetes is a 24/7 disease

Requires constant juggling to prevent high or low blood sugar

High vs. Low Blood Sugar

High blood sugar

Increased thirst, frequent urination, nausea, fruity breath, fatigue, blurry vision, drowsiness, confusion

• Develops more slowly

• Insulin is treatment

Low blood sugar

Hunger, headache, dizziness, change in behavior, poor coordination, blurry vision, drowsiness, confusion

• Can get to dangerous level more quickly

• When in doubt, give sugar (candy, juice)

Student either independent or nurse assist:

• Blood sugar monitoring before all meals and snacks & before PE

• Counting carbohydrates in all food eaten

• Dosing w/ appropriate dose of insulin

• Problem solving for equipment problems, illness, low & high blood sugar

Never send student with low blood sugar to office alone

Speak to office secretary or send with escort

GlucagonGiven if student cannot swallow safely eg. seizure or unconscious

Hormone releases sugar stored in liver

Only nurse, parent or trained personnel can give

Kept in health room

Know the plan & make sure your substitute teachers know the plan

Provide unlimited access to water & bathroom

Provide accommodations for students with diabetes - no penalty for time out of classroom due to diabetes

Notify the parents/guardian and school nurse well in advance of changes in the school schedule : class parties, field trips, special events.

Eating meals and snacks on time is a critical component of diabetes management. 

High or low blood sugar could result in behavioral change and cognitive impairment.

 

SeizureAvoid further injury: Remove glasses, protect head

Turn on side if on floor

Track time, document seizure activity

Remain with student

Notify nurse

See health plan for type of seizure, do they need post-seizure medication

When is a Seizure an Emergency?First time seizure (no medical ID and no known history of seizures)

Convulsive seizure lasting more than 5 minutes

Repeated seizures without regaining consciousness

More seizures than usual or change in type

Student is injured, has diabetes or is pregnant

Seizure occurs in water

Normal breathing does not resume

Questions?