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National
Urban School Health Leadership Institute
Fulton County's Student Health Services is one
of seven school districts from across the United
States that was chosen to participate in the
National Urban School Health Leadership Institute
which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Urban Institute is a 3 year commitment designed
to assist the selected school districts with
developing a systematic, coordinated approach
to school health programs and services as well
as strengthen the leadership skills of the school
health leaders. Research confirms that: If students
are to learn, schools and their community partners
need to address health and safety concerns so
that these issues will not interfere with student
achievement and success.
Fulton
County School's Urban Leadership Institute District
Team is comprised of:
- Lynne P. Meadows, RN, MS, Coordinator
of Student Health Services
- Dr. Cephus Jackson, Executive Director, Student
Health Services
- Juliet Cooper, Director of Child Health, Adolescent
Health School Health Services, Fulton
County
Department of Health & Wellness
- Therese McGuire, Director of Health Education
and Physical Education
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Partnership
with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)
Student Health Services has worked in collaboration
with Children's Health Care of Atlanta since 2001. CHOA has been extremely supportive
in helping the school nurses provide health
services to many students in our school system.
Betty Fitzpatrick, RN, BSN, NCSN is the School
Nurse Liaison from CHOA assigned to Fulton County
School System. She acts as the liaison/consultant
for Fulton County Schools.
Betty,
who works in the Community Health Development
and Advocacy Department at CHOA, has been a
pediatric nurse for 22 years. She is a Nationally
Certified School Nurse. As Fulton's school nurse
liaison, she provides information on illness
prevention and management of chronic diseases,
lends health education materials through the
school health lending library, gives advice
and support to the school nurses as well as
makes community referrals. As a school nurse
liaison, Betty also helps to provide a smooth
transition back to school for children who have
been in a Children's Healthcare of Atlanta facility.
Thanks
Betty- for all you do to help us take care of
the students of Fulton County Schools.
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West
Nile Virus in School Settings
The
West Nile Virus continues to be a health concern and
a much talked about topic in the media. Student Health Services in collaboration
with the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness
wanted to highlight the following information regarding
the virus:
- The
West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted through the
bite of an infected mosquito.
- The
virus cannot be transmitted from an infected person
or animal so the best way to protect yourself is
to reduce the number of mosquito bites you receive.
- To
date most confirmed cases of WNV have been in persons
50 years of age and older. Children are not at an
increased risk for developing WNV infection.
- Most
WNV infections are mild and often undetected.
- Symptoms
usually occur within 3 to 14 days after infection.
- Symptoms
generally last 3 to 6 days and in recent outbreaks,
symptoms occurring among patients hospitalized with
severe disease include:
- Fever
- Weakness
- Nausea
and vomiting
- Headache
and or change in mental status
- Rash
- Children
can be allowed to play outside; however, a few precautions
should be taken:
- Use
insect repellant according to manufacturer's
direction and with parent's consent. Be careful
not to spray aerosol or pump products in enclosed
areas.
- Eliminate
areas of standing water around the school. These
areas can include gutters, tires used in football
practice or in the playground, ditches, flat
roofs, buckets as well as toys that hold water.
Any stagnant water should be discarded.
- When
outside for long periods of time, children and
adults should wear protective clothing such
as long pants, long sleeved-shirts, and socks.
- Try
to avoid areas where there are weeds, tall grass,
and bushes or where there is known mosquito
activity.
- If
pesticides are used to kill mosquitoes, the
products should be used in accordance with guidelines
set by the US Environment Protection Agency.
Avoid exposure to pesticides to decrease the
risk of any reactions.
Fulton
County Department of Health and Wellness is conducting
bird surveillance for West Nile Virus. If a fresh
dead crow, blue jay or raptor is found on the property,
call the Dead Bird Pick-up Line at (404) 524-7368.
Birds that appear to have died within the past 24
hours and in are good condition (no rotting, severe
injury) can be picked up for testing for the virus
by the county. If the bird is in poor condition, the
bird can be picked up by using gloves or a plastic
bag and thrown in the trash. The County is also tracking
the locations of all dead bird calls, so if a dead
bird is found, please call the Dead Bird Pick-up line
to report the location of the dead bird.
For
more information on mosquito control or WNV, you can
the Mosquito Hotline at (404) 730-5296, or visit Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/.
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Board
Approves Purchase of Defibrillators - Q & A
As part of the district’s efforts to keep students
safe, the Fulton County School System has implemented
a Public Access to Defibrillation (PAD) program. The
initiative places one or more Automated External Defibrillators
(AEDs) in each middle and high school so that trained school
staff can provide immediate medical response during
emergency situations.
A Response Team
consisting of administrators, front office staff,
coaches, and teachers has been trained at each high
school. For more information - Questions
and Answers
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Student
Health Services, Fulton County Schools Selects District’s
Medical Adviser
Student Health Services has selected Dr. Leon Haley,
Jr., MD, MHSA, FACEP as the district’s
new Medical Director/Advisor. Dr. Haley is Chief of
Emergency Medicine and Deputy
Vice President of Medical Affairs at Grady Health
System. Dr. Haley has an impressive health
care administration and medical background and is
a well respected physician. He is married
and has three children. Dr. Haley is also very active
in the community. Please see the
following announcement
from Fulton County’s New Medical Advisor, Dr.
Leon Haley.
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Senate
Bill 472
August
5, 2002
RE:Self-Administration
of Asthma Medication
New
Legislation - Senate Bill 472
Dear
Fulton County School Parent/Guardian:
Senate
Bill 472 was passed during the 2002 Georgia Legislative
Session. This bill allows children with asthma to
carry inhalers for self-administration while at school
or at a school- sponsored event. As a result, Fulton
County School System has revised the Authorization
For Students To Carry A Prescription Inhaler, EpiPen,
Insulin, or other Approved Medication policy and procedure.
If
you have a student who has asthma or other health
conditions that require self-administration of medication,
you must request a form
Authorization For Students To Carry A Prescription
Inhaler, EpiPen, Insulin, or other Approved Medication
from your child's school. This form, including written
permission from your doctor and your signature must
be completed before the school can allow your child
to carry medication.
Should
you have any questions or need additional information,
please contact Student Health Services at (404) 763-6801.
Sincerely,
Lynne
P. Meadows, RN, MS
Coordinator
of Student Health Services
LPM:sp
- For
a Printer Friendly copy of this information, Click
HERE.
- For
a Printer Friendly copy of the required authorization
form, Click HERE.
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Fulton
County School System
Student
Health Services
Authorization
for Students to Carry a Prescription Inhaler, EpiPen,
Insulin or other Approved Medication
Policy
& Procedure
Fulton
County Schools and Senate Bill 472 permits students
to carry asthma inhalers and other prescribed medications
with the consent of the students' physician and parent/guardian.
Written approval from the parent and physician must
be obtained and an Authorization for Students to Carry
a Prescription Inhaler, EpiPen, Insulin or other Approved
Medication* form
must be completed in order for the school to comply.
The
written approval form shall include the following:
- Physician
and parent/guardian signed written authorization
- Student's
name and signature
- The
name and purpose of the medication
- The
prescribed dosage and time(s) at which medication
is to be administered
- Other
pertinent written instructions that outline special
circumstances, and procedures for school personnel
to follow in the event of an emergency; as well
as
- Signed
written authorization by the parent or legal guardian
for the school to seek emergency medical treatment
for the student when deemed necessary and appropriate
*Other
Approved Medication shall be defined as prescribed
medication used for emergency purposes and/or prescribed
medication approved by Student Health Services in
collaboration with the student's health care provider.
See
Authorization For Students To Carry A Prescription
Inhaler, EpiPen, Insulin, Or Other Approved Medication
Form.
Fulton
County School staff shall incur no liability for any
injury to a student caused by his or her self-administration
of medication, except a claim based on willful or
wanton misconduct.
Authorization
for self-administration of medications under this
policy shall be effective only for the school year
in which such authorization is granted, subsequent
authorization may be granted in any school year in
accordance with this policy.
Revised
08/02
- For
a Printer Friendly copy of this information, Click
HERE.
- For
a Printer Friendly copy of the required authorization
form, Click HERE.
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