The BCE Heartbeat

As part of the eight components of school health, School Nurses conduct periodic vision, dental, hearing, blood pressure,and other screenings as recommended by SC DHEC, and as needed as part of the nurse's assessment during a health room visit. These screenings are important in early detection of hearing or vision difficulties that may impact teaching and learning. Many times a student is not even aware he/she is having difficulty seeing the board, reading, or hearing classroom instructions. Please contact your child's school nurse if you do not want your child screened.
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- Check your child’s homework each night and check their hair for head lice. Stop lice in their tracks. 
A common problemLice are small insects that live on human hair.  Children 3-11 are their usual hosts.  Having head lice has nothing to do with poor personal hygiene. Lice do not jump, hop, or fly, nor do they typically survive off their human host more than 24 hours. They are mainly acquired by direct head-to-head contact with an infested person’s hair and therefore are most likely transmitted in the home setting. Lice should not be considered a medical or public health problem, since they rarely (if ever) cause direct harm and are not known to transmit infectious agents from person-to person.
Signs and symptoms
Intense itching is the most common sign that your child may have head lice.  Lice are about the size of a sesame seed; the color may be grayish-white to reddish-brown.  Their nits are small, silvery-white and are attached to the hair shaft just above the scalp. Head lice are commonly found around the nape of the neck and behind the ears.
How do I treat this condition?
Use of an over-the-counter product is the first step in treatment.  It is very important to follow any instructions that are included with the product.  After using the product, use a metal nit comb to remove dead lice and nits.  Repeat the treatment with the product 7-10 days after the first application.  After another 7-10 days, re-examine the child’s head.  If live lice are still seen, treatment failure or resistance likely has occurred.  A health-care professional will advise you to use a prescription product. 
Other steps to take
Excessive cleanup in the home- that is major scrubbing of all surfaces and items in a room- is not necessary but the child’s clothes, towel, and bedding should be washed in hot water or dried on high heat.  The same can be done for the child’s toys or blanket or with items used in the child’s hair.  Do not use insecticides on furniture, rugs or pets. Inspect other family members for head lice.  Never treat your child for head lice unless you know he/she is infested.  Smothering lice with mayonnaise, petrolatum, or olive oil is not recommended. These approaches have not been adequately studied.  It is especially important to avoid using dangerous materials such as kerosene, gasoline, paint thinners or turpentine to get rid of lice. 
What else do I need to know?
Children should understand the importance of not sharing combs, brushes or hats or any personal hygiene items.  Children should also know that head-to-head contact with friends can transmit lice.  Inspect your child’s head carefully and frequently for signs of lice and nits.  Pay close attention to children who consistently scratch their heads. If your child has a case of head lice, please inform your school nurse and classroom teacher.
For more information
For reliable information, visit the web sites, American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org, the National Association of School Nurses:  www.nasn.org, or contact your school nurse, or your family physician
                                                           
 
 

​Services Available to Students with Special Health Care Needs
Parent Notice (IHPs, Section 504, IDEA, Medical Homebound): Required By S.C. Code Ann. Section 59-63-90 (Supp. 2013)
 
Many health care services can be provided for students to keep them at school where they can learn and participate with other students. Our goal is to provide information to parents and legal guardians about some of the services and programs available for addressing the health care needs of students during the school day to help students succeed in school. It is important that the necessary health care information is shared with the appropriate people—such as teachers on duty during recess, bus drivers, and cafeteria employees—to make sure that the students’ needs are met throughout the school day.
 
Individual Health Care Plans or Individual Health Plans (IHPs)
 
Individual health care plans are also called individual health plans or IHPs. School nurses who are registered nurses write IHPs to guide how a student’s health care needs will be met while at school. The nurse works with the student, the student’s parents or legal guardians, the student’s health care provider, and other school staff to write the plan. IHPs are written for students who have special health care needs that must be met by school staff during the school day. IHPs are also written for students who have been approved by the school district to self-medicate or self-monitor. To learn more about IHPs, talk with your child’s school nurse or the District Lead Nurse Dawn MacAdams.
 
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504)Section 504 is a federal law that requires public schools to make adjustments so that students with certain disabilities can learn and participate in settings like other students who do not have disabilities. To be eligible for services under Section 504, a student must have a condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Whether an impairment substantially limits a major life activity must be determined without reference to the ameliorative effects of mitigating measures or lessening of the impact of the condition by the use of medication, medical supplies, equipment, or appliances, low-vision devices (not including ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses), prosthetics, including limbs and devices, hearing aids and cochlear implants, or other implantable hearing devices, mobility devices, or oxygen therapy equipment and supplies. A team decides if a student is eligible. The team should include the student’s parent or legal guardian, the student (if able), and others who know the student or know about the student’s disability, such as a teacher, a school counselor, a school nurse, and other school staff. If the student is eligible, the team develops an individual accommodation plan. The individual accommodation plan explains how the school will meet the student’s needs while at school and may include health services for the student during the school day if needed. To learn more about Section 504, contact your child’s principal or administrator.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)Students, ages 3 to 21 years, may receive services under the IDEA if the student needs special education and related services to benefit from his or her educational program. A team decides if a student qualifies for services under the IDEA. The team includes the student’s parent or legal guardian, teachers, and other school staff. The team develops an individualized education program (IEP) if the student meets federal and state requirements. The IEP outlines a plan for helping the student receive a free appropriate public education and meet goals set by the team. The IEP may include health services for the student during the school day if needed. To learn more about IDEA, contact your child’s principal or administrator.
Medical Homebound InstructionMedical homebound instruction is a service that is available for students who cannot attend school for a medical reason even with the aid of transportation. A physician must certify that the student has such a medical condition but may benefit from instruction, and must fill out the medical homebound form that the school district provides. The school district then decides whether to approve the student for medical homebound services. The school district will consider the severity of the student’s illness or injury, the length of time that the student will be out of school, the impact that a long period away from school will have on the student’s academic success, and whether the student’s health needs can be met at school. To learn more about medical homebound services, contact your child’s school attendance secretary or your child’s administrator.