Nurse’s Corner

Nurse’s Corner

Welcome Back. Now that school is back in session, the onset of the new school year can be a particularly tricky time for those who suffer from asthma and allergy triggers. Triggers such as mold spores, pollen, dander, peanuts, latex, and more, can all be found in schools, homes, and offices, and can make allergy symptoms worse. School buildings can be especially challenging, and thus it is critical for those who have asthma, food allergies, and environmental allergies, to be especially efficient in planning ahead and communicate with the school nurse if a trigger has brought on asthma or allergy symptoms.

Here are some tips that parents can use to ensure a successful school year for their child, and a smooth transition into the 2019-2020 school year.  

1. Meet the school nurse- Jill D. Aquino, RN, CSN, MS at: 973-383-7573 ext 3231
2. Familiarize yourself with the medical forms that are imperative for the school nurse to have on file in order to assist your child with medication administration for over the counter medication, or as needed for allergy triggers or other life threatening medical emergencies. These forms can be found below, at the bottom of the page.
3. Meet your child’s teachers, they are the ones who see your child on a daily, on-going basis, and they can be a critical component in assisting your child in case of an allergic medical emergency.
4. Make sure your child’s vaccines are up to date, and any medical issues that arise during the school year should be reported immediately to the school nurse.
5. Prepare your child by making sure he/she has been properly trained by the physician for the signs and symptoms to look for that indicate allergic reactions. Teach your child age-appropriate ways to stay safe from allergy triggers.
6. Make a list of what needs to be dropped off to the school nurse on the first day of school, such as medical paperwork, inhaler, epi-pen, etc…anything that will assist the nurse, and thus, assist your child in how to stay as safe as possible from allergy triggers
7. Make sure you keep an on-going partnership with the school nurse, teachers, coaches, and staff.

Allergy Symptoms: allergies are characterized by an over-reaction of the immune system to certain substances (allergens) that are inhaled (pollen, dust mites, etc…), eaten (peanuts, shellfish, etc…), injected (bee stings, certain medicines, etc…), or touched (poison ivy). If an allergic reaction is severe, a person may need emergency medical treatment.

Symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• runny nose
• itchy nose or throat
• coughing
• skin rash/hives
• throat closing/difficulty breathing/chest tightness
• drop in blood pressure
• diarrhea
• anaphylaxis: a medical emergency

Asthma Symptoms: asthma occurs when airways become blocked temporarily or narrowed by exposure to an allergen. Irritants, strenuous exercise, anxiety, or other triggers can precipitate this. If an asthma attack is severe, a person may need emergency medical treatment.

Symptoms include:

• sudden shortness of breath
• difficulty breathing
• chest tightness
• wheezing/coughing

Always remember it is imperative to prevent, recognize signs & symptoms of, and treat allergies and asthma appropriately.

Here’s to a great school year!

The following documents are for your use. 

Attachments:

• Administration of Over the Counter Medication
• Administration of Prescription Medication
• Asthma Treatment Plan
• Asthma Treatment Plan form direction
• Epipen-Auvi-Q/Emergency Health Care Form
• Epipen Form Directions