Author: Admin

March 2009

Nurse’s Notes

March is National Nutrition Month®

Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your age. Help yourself to feel your best by making healthy food choices and being physically active every day.
Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with these recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. A healthy eating plan:
Emphasizes fruit, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat or fat-free milk and milk products
Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium) and added sugars.
Make Your Calories Count. Think nutrient-rich rather than “good” or “bad” foods. The majority of your food choices should be packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients – and lower in calories. Making smart food choices can help you stay healthy, manage your weight and be physically active. Focus on Variety. Eat a variety of foods from all the food groups to get the nutrients your body needs. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen or canned. Include more dark green vegetables such as leafy greens and broccoli and orange vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes. Vary your protein choices with more fish, beans and peas. And, eat at least 3 ounces of whole grain cereals, breads, crackers, rice or pasta every day.
Know Your Fats. Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats and cholesterol to help reduce the risk of heart disease. Most of the fats you eat should be monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Check the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels for total fat and saturated fat.
Physical Activity for Fitness and Health. Balancing physical activity and a healthful diet is your best recipe for managing weight and promoting overall health and fitness. Set a goal to be physically active at least 30 minutes every day. You can break up your physical activity into 10 minute sessions throughout the day. If you are currently inactive, start with a few minutes of activity such as walking. Then gradually increase the minutes as you become stronger.
(American Dietetic Association)

Healthy Eating Habits for Kids

Healthy eating and physical activity don’t become habits overnight. Parents can help children improve their eating habits by making healthy changes a part of the daily routine. Make the most of family mealtime. Eating meals together provides the opportunity to help children develop a healthy attitude toward food. It also enables parents to serve as role models, introduce new foods and establish a regular meal schedule.
Active kids need planned, healthy snacks. Think of them as mini-meals that contribute nutrient-rich foods. Keep a variety of
nutritious ready-to-eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods on hand.
Every child needs appropriate amounts of calories, protein, minerals and vitamins to grow.
MyPyramid.gov offers personalized eating plans for healthy adults and children over the age of two and interactive tools to track food choices, stay active and eat right.
(American Dietetic Association)

National Poison Prevention Week
March 15-21, 2009

Sara Sprouse, RN, BSN

Each year, approximately 2.4 million people – more than half under age 6 – swallow or have contact with a poisonous substance. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some important tips below to prevent and to treat exposures to poison.

School Nurse
Van Buren Community Schools
503 Henry St.
Keosauqua, IA 52565

Phone:
Douds-641-936-4321
Keo-319-293-3183
Stockport-319-796-4414
E-mail: sara.sprouse@gpaea.k12.ia.us

Most poisonings occur when parents or caregivers are home but not paying attention. The most dangerous potential poisons are medicines, cleaning products, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid, pesticides, furniture polish, gasoline, kerosene and lamp oil. Be especially vigilant when there is a change in routine. Holidays, visits to and from grandparents’ homes, and other special events may bring greater risk of poisoning if the usual safeguards are defeated or not in place.
Store medicine, cleaners, paints/varnishes and pesticides in their original packaging in locked cabinets or containers, out of sight and reach of children.
Install a safety latch – that locks when you close the door – on child-accessible cabinets containing harmful products.
Purchase and keep all medicines in containers with safety caps. Discard unused medication.
Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name.
Check the label each time you give a child medicine to ensure proper dosage.
Never place poisonous products in food or drink containers.
Keep coal, wood or kerosene stoves in safe working order.
Maintain working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Treatment
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison, and has mild or no symptoms, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222
Different types and methods of poisoning require different, immediate treatment:
Swallowed poison – Remove the item from the child, and have the child spit out any remaining substance. Do not make your child vomit. Do not use syrup of ipecac.
Skin poison -- Remove the child’s clothes and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
Eye poison -- Flush the child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner.
Poisonous fumes – Take the child outside or into fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until the child breathes on his or her own, or until someone can take over.
(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2/09)

Poison Prevention and Treatment Tips

Treatment
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison, and has mild or no symptoms, call your poison control center at 1-800-222-1222
Different types and methods of poisoning require different, immediate treatment:
Swallowed poison – Remove the item from the child, and have the child spit out any remaining substance. Do not make your child vomit. Do not use syrup of ipecac.
Skin poison -- Remove the child’s clothes and rinse the skin with lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes.
Eye poison -- Flush the child’s eye by holding the eyelid open and pouring a steady stream of room temperature water into the inner corner.
Poisonous fumes – Take the child outside or into fresh air immediately. If the child has stopped breathing, start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and do not stop until the child breathes on his or her own, or until someone can take over.
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2/09

Answers: 1.A, 2.B, 3.A, 4.B, 5 A, 6.C, 7.B, 8. C

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Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
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Notes From The Nurse

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One benefit of using your newsletter as a promotional tool is that you can reuse content from other marketing materials, such as press releases, market studies, and reports.
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The subject matter that appears in newsletters is virtually endless. You can include stories that focus on current technologies or innovations in your field.
You may also want to note business or economic trends, or make predictions for your customers or clients.
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Some newsletters include a column that is updated every issue, for instance, an advice column, a book review, a letter from the president, or an editorial. You can also profile new employees or top customers or vendors.

This story can fit 75-125 words.
Selecting pictures or graphics is an important part of adding content to your newsletter.
Think about your article and ask yourself if the picture supports or enhances the message you’re trying to convey. Avoid selecting images that appear to be out of context.
Microsoft Publisher includes thousands of clip art images from which you can choose and import into your newsletter. There are also several tools you can use to draw shapes and symbols.
Once you have chosen an image, place it close to the article. Be sure to place the caption of the image near the image.