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VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 http://www.psi-solutions.org JANUARY 2012 A Wellness Protect Yourself Newsletter for from HealthMatters! Educators the “Bite” of Winter What’s bugging you ? Another Ohio winter has arrived: cold The school year would just not be The gold standard in diagnosis is the temperatures, high winds and snow complete without a case of head lice! presence of a live on the head or are here for the next few months. This school health issue always seems a nit (louse egg) within 1cm of the scalp, to create quite an in the school itching may or may not be present. It is important to remember to dress setting, and has resulted in a great deal of Focus areas for examination include misinformation for students, parents and behind the ears and nape of the neck. for the weather. school administrators. Primary transmission is direct head to head contact; it is only secondary Frostbite, a cold-related condition Head Lice (plural of , known transmission that lice transfer through that may result from cold exposure, as, Pediculus humanus capitis) infests the brushes, combs, bedding, etc. Lice do is the freezing of fluid in the cells scalp and hair of the human head and is not jump, or crawl long distances. As and can occur in various degrees. especially common among schoolchildren a result, school is a very rare source of “Frostnip” refers to a milder form of ages 3-12. It is important to remember that transmission; much more common are frostbite in which only the surface head lice affects all socioeconomic and family members, overnight guests and cells of the skin freeze, usually on the ethnic groups, is more frequent in girls playmates that spend a large amount of than boys and less frequent in African time together. nose, ears, cheeks, fingers and toes. Americans due to the oval shape of the hair shaft. It is important to avoid misdiagnosis as it The affected skin may at first leads to unnecessary treatment, student become flushed or reddened or the According to the National Association and family embarrassment, as well as individual may feel a burning and for School Nurses, keys to effective having negative effects on learning. tingling sensation. Frostnip is the lice management include community Similarly, “No Nit” policies also lead most common type of frostbite, and education, involving school professionals, to negative learning outcomes due to if identified early it can be reversed health care providers and caregivers. In increased student absences and are not without any tissue damage. addition, accurate diagnosis is pertinent recommended by the Center for Disease to lice management as well as effective Control (CDC), American Academy of treatment to reduce re-treatment and Pediatrics, National Association of The recommended treatment is to resistance. School Nurses, the American School warm the affected part by blowing through cupped hands onto the skin, (Continued on page 2) covering the area, or holding the extremity against the body and using IN THIS ISSUE: What’s bugging you? body heat for warming. BED BUGS...... 3 FROSTBITE...... 1 PETERSON SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS ...... 4 Adapted from Cleveland Clinic HEAD LICE...... 1 PSI STUDENT WELLNESS PROGRAMS. . 4 “Let’s Move It” LICE 101...... 2 PSI’s SCHOOL WEB SERVICE...... 4

1 LICE 101 Everything you really didn’t want to know about lice! DEFINITIONS

Lice - more than one louse Nit - eggs, dead or alive of a louse

Parasite - lives off another, in this case the blood Louse - small that lives on the scalp of humans Actual size of the three lice forms compared to a - having an insect present, in this penny (Photo credit: CDC) - having an infestation of lice case, on your head MYTHS TRUTHS What’s bugging Lice are spread only by head to head contact. They are much harder to get than a cold, flu, ear (Continued from page 1) Lice are easy to get you ? infection, pink eye, strep throat, food poisoning or impetigo

Lice are species specific. You can only get Health Association, Harvard School of You can get lice from your dog, guinea pig or human lice from another human. You cannot get other animal Public Health and many others. another animal’s lice

Rarely, but possible. Hairbrushes, pillows Additionally these organizations Lice are often passed via hats and helmet and sheets are much more common modes of recommend students diagnosed transmission with head lice remain in school and School is a VERY RARE source of transmission. not be immediately excluded. The School is a common place for lice Much more common are family members, recommendation continues, including transmission overnight guests and playmates who spend a large amount of time together that parents will of course be notified and the school nurse or health personnel Hygiene makes absolutely no difference. Lice actually like clean hair more than dirty. You get will follow up to make sure appropriate Poor hygiene contributes to lice lice by close personal contact with someone else treatment is accomplished. It is at the time who has lice, not by being dirty that appropriate treatment has not taken Lice can only crawl. They can neither fly nor place that the student would not be able to Lice can jump or fly from one person to jump. They must crawl from one person to another come to school. another

Any nits farther away than ¼” to ½” on the hair Any nits left in the hair can cause lice to Misdiagnosis and “No Nit” policies also shaft are ALREADY HATCHED and pose no risk come back to others cause increased childcare expenses, lost wages and strain on the parent or Nits are cemented to the hair and very hard to Eggs or nits can fall out of the hair, hatch and guardian of the student. A recent study remove. They cannot fall off. Newly hatched cause lice in another person larvae must find a head quickly or they will die of attendance records show 12-24 million school days are lost annually in the US due to exclusion of students for lice and nits. Lice can live a long time Lice live only 1-2 days off the head

Sound communication and thorough Only the person with lice should be treated. Lice shampoos are INSECTICIDES and can be education lead to shared clinical decision dangerous if used incorrectly or too frequently. All members of a family should be treated if making between the family and the school Household members and close contacts should one person has lice be checked, but only treat those who actually nurse or health provider resulting in have lice. The house, clothing or other items quality care and positive outcomes for the should NOT be sprayed with insecticide student.

Classroom transmission is EXCEEDINGLY RARE Checking a classroom when one student has and a waste of valuable teaching time. Checking The role of the school nurse is pivotal in lice can prevent lice from spreading family members and close playmates is much diagnosis, referral and education. The more appropriate school nurse can educate and support Avoiding lice is important as they spread Lice do not spread any known disease. They are treatment attempts, help alleviate strain disease annoying and icky, but cause no disease

Chart available to download from: http://www.pershing.k12.nv.us/parents/health_issues/lice101.html (Continued on page 3)

2 (Continued from page 2) Bed Bugs

What’s bugging “Sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” you ? used to be just an old saying, but the recent resurgence of bed bugs across the on parents and guardians, as well as U.S. is a reality. Bed bugs are primarily a understand and validate struggles. nuisance to humans and are not known to

transmit disease. However, CDC image: Close-up of tiny Head lice treatment should start with can cause severe psychological and accurate diagnosis, and continue with emotional stress. This should be kept in place for more than safe and effective treatment. Education a year because the bugs can survive for an and collaboration with parents and Bed bugs are parasitic that prefer extended period of time without feeding. pertinent school personnel should to feed on human blood, but can also be at the forefront of both prevention survive on the blood of rodents, bats, birds QUICK FACTS and treatment of head lice, including and pets. Bed bugs are small but visible to environmental considerations. the naked eye. They typically hide during *Anyone can have a bed bug infestation. the day and only come out to feed, usually It is a common misconception that only In conclusion, head lice are not at night. They cannot fly but can walk very dirty or low-income homes carry bed a medical hazard, but instead a fast. They can cling to surfaces and fit bugs. The truth is that bed bugs prefer nuisance or “pest” one could say, into very small cracks and crevices. Bed human blood, and they will feed on with social, physiological and financial bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can be anyone, regardless of their cleanliness or consequences. It takes a village to cure found in many locations. They are most socioeconomic status. a head lice infestation. The model of a often found in places that are occupied *Bed bugs do not transmit disease; managed, well controlled, approach to by humans with a high rate of occupant however, secondary infections can occur head lice treatment requires tools aimed turnover, including hotels, dorms, from scratching bed bug bites. at accurate diagnosis, safe and effective apartments, and movie theaters, airplanes, *Pesticides and other treatments are treatment and a solid foundation of ships, trains and buses. Bed bugs hide effective against pests, but are not school community education and in mattresses, box springs, bed frames, necessarily effective against bed bugs. assistance. dressers, upholstered furniture, cracks Some pesticides will kill bed bugs that are and crevices, baseboards, etc. They out in the open and if they are sprayed Resources: prefer fabric, wood and paper surfaces. directly. However, the majority of bed bugs National Association of School Nurses, School and in an infested building are hiding and it is Community Resources to Avoid and Take Control Bed bugs may or may not be seen, but unlikely they will be killed by these contact of Head Lice. (2011). Head Lice in Children: A Real the most obvious signs of bed bugs are pesticides. Head Scratcher for the Community small black spots (feces) in or near the *Bug bombs will not kill the majority of [Powerpoint presentation]. hiding places or bloodstains, which can bed bugs in an infested room. These occur when a bed bug is squashed. Bed insecticides typically cause bed bugs to Pontious, MSN, RN, NCSN, D. J. (2011). Hats Off to bug bites are usually itchy red welts often scatter so that they can avoid the irritating Success: Changing Head Lice Policy. found two or three in a row and occur effect of the spray. The scattering effect NASN School Nurse, 26 (6), pp. 357-362. most often on the exposed areas of the from bug bombs makes the bed bug body such as the face, neck and arms. infestation much worse! Head lice. (2011). In The Free Dictionary.com. These can be similar to other insect bites Retrieved December, 19, 2011, so it is important to confirm what caused BED BUGS at SCHOOL http://www.thefreedictionary.com/head+lice the bites. The reaction to a bed bug bite is a result of the injected saliva. People If a suspected bed bug is found on a can present with a variety of reactions student at school, the student should not to bed bug bites. Resisting the urge to be excluded from school. A student’s scratch the bites can prevent a secondary privacy and dignity should be maintained. infection. Recommended guidelines for schools to follow if a suspected bed bug is found on Getting rid of bed bugs will probably a student or their belongings can be found require the help of a professional. online at the following websites: Vacuuming will remove some of the bed www.odh.ohio.gov bugs, but not the eggs that are glued in centralohiobedbugs.org place. Items can be placed in a dryer ccbh.net (search: bed bugs) on high heat for 20 minutes to kill bed bugs and their eggs. Mattresses and box PSI customizes Health Services to Sources: The Ohio Department of Health, The meet the needs of your students. springs can be enclosed in a bed bug- Central Ohio Bed Bug Task Force and The Cuyahoga proof zippered cover to kill the bed bugs. County Board of Health 3 New Peterson Scholarship Expected to Impact School Nursing

Starting in the 2012-2013 school year, PSI’s Nurse Managers and Nurse private schools across Ohio will be able Specialists continue to support our Student Wellness to accept more students with special PSI Health Staff to stay current with all Programs needs. The Peterson Scholarship Peterson-funded student nursing Why not kick off 2012 by getting your Program will help make private school needs. We also provide training and students headed down the road to a financially feasible for thousands professional development as needed healthier future? of students who qualify for special to help faculty understand how best education services. Many students who to manage these students and how to Students who learn healthy habits at an early age are much more likely to excel qualify for special education services conform to Scholarship requirements. academically, enjoy good health and also have specialized nursing and If you have questions about the Peterson maintain their appropriate weight. needs. Scholarship Program, please contact Dr. Layla Nelson, PSI’s Coordinator of This program promotes nutrition, hygiene and exercise, involving students and Educational Specialists. parents. It has been very successful with urban and suburban populations, complementing the government’s emphasis upon student wellness, obesity awareness and the development of Part of this new program available to healthy habits. It is based on the national PSI’s School Web interested schools is a Question and Health Education Standards and includes Answer column for your own school or behavioral objectives to measure student Based Service outcome. district’s web site, newsletter or parent PSI is making available to interested letters. In these periodic columns, our PSI’s Healthy Choices: Be a Healthy Hero! partner schools next school year a web School Nursing Specialists will answer is also an excellent way to integrate based service illustrating to parents the health-related questions for parents, psychological, speech, and instructional many school health and educational principals and teachers concerning services with the school health team. The provision of such comprehensive services programs your school offers parents current issues. There is no charge for is the best way to impact students and this service. Schools are welcome to through PSI. This is designed to serve as a parents while maximizing cost benefits. resource to your parents and to enhance include this column in their print or digital their appreciation of all you do for their newsletters, on their school’s website Join the growing number of PSI partner children and families. and/or on their letterhead. Please contact schools who are participating in PSI’s the PSI Health Department (ext 226 or at “Healthy Choices” program and Be a [email protected]) for Healthy Hero. further information about this new value For more information about this added and complementary service from fast growing and exciting student PSI • PARADIGM Ohio’s School Health Specialists! wellness program please contact us at HEALTH MATTERS NEWSLETTER [email protected]. IS PUBLISHED BY: PSI 2112 Case Parkway South Suite 10, PO Box 468 Twinsburg OH 44087-0468 800-841-4774 PSI provides a wide variety of school health, special education, ESL, foreign language [email protected] and intervention services. www.psi-solutions.org Contact us for more information. Health Matters! 4 January 2012 Our first spotlight is on CHAD CARR an administrator who uses support and innovation to Stepping Toward Excellence boost test scores and begins a new series on school morale. effective school leaders.

Chad Carr, Mosaica’s Executive Vice President

Building a School Team That Wins was only 74, and there was little discussion Higher test scores for the students have now Why one school succeeds and another does about each child’s individual achievement. become a metaphor for being on the winning not has been the subject of countless articles Teachers actually dreaded the upcoming state side, and winning is contagious. “Another and any number of research studies. While achievement tests. One of Mr. Carr’s first steps important reason for our success is that there is no silver bullet to fit all schools, it was to make it very clear to his staff that he part of our special education department is is always beneficial to examine individual supported his teachers. “What do you need powered by PSI. Their staff of psychologists, success stories to glean what lessons may be from me to help our kids succeed?”, was his speech therapists, health providers, and their applicable to other schools. question to his teachers! Soon a plan was supervisors who are always available to me, developed and implemented to screen students have been an integral part of our success”, This year will be the fifteenth anniversary of every two weeks, to both identify skill levels adds Mr. Carr. Mosaica Education, Inc., begun in 1997 by Gene and to specifically determine the academic and Dawn Eidelman. One of Mosaica’s most areas in need of improvement. These bi-weekly “I know it sounds strange,” said Mrs. Bergman successful schools is Columbus Preparatory assessments (Scrimmages©) kept everyone (curriculum specialist) and Mrs. Melrose (2nd Academy in Columbus, Ohio. on track: teachers, students, parents and the grade teacher), “but we all declared ‘war’ on administrators. Test scores slowly began to these tests - and it worked! We are winning!” The Columbus Preparatory Academy (CPA), rise, along with the feeling of being part of a The performance index score of 74 in 2007 operated by Mosaica Education, Inc. under the hard-working team effort. has risen to 92 in 2010 and 102 in 2011. The direction of Chad Carr is one excellent case in keys to this successful growth at CPA include point. This Columbus-based community school Mosaica provided five professional working as a team, constant communication, was in “Academic Emergency” just a few development days during the school year and perhaps most importantly, the explicit years ago. Mr. Carr had followed a long list of and ten before the start of school. These expectation of student achievement. principals facing the challenges and difficulties became opportunities for new ideas to be of starting up a new school. His immediate goals aired, for teachers to collaborate on design The creative tangent that ties these together is were to accelerate the academic achievement interventions, and to continually renew a the concept of The Blitz©, which has endless of the students, to motivate the parents and general sense of group motivation. Social applications at CPA. By raising expectations teachers and to bring about a complete shift in cohesion and creative opportunity developed amongst the entire school and by achieving the school’s attitude toward learning. together, making a critical difference to the credible results, a challenge that was feared very fabric of the school. has become a welcomed opportunity. Chad Chad has indeed succeeded and in very Carr indeed developed a winning team to unconventional ways at that. First, consider the Chad used the competitive metaphors of bolster student success! academic history of CPA. In 2007 it was one of football and ‘war’ to motivate students to beat the worst performing charter schools in Ohio. the state achievement tests. “The Blitz©” * * * This year, the Columbus Preparatory Academy at CPA has become like the NFL credo for If you know of school leaders who was ranked “Excellent with Distinction”, as students to win, with signs throughout the deserve recognition for their efforts and measured by the Ohio Department of Education. school boosting the enthusiasm factor for any accomplishments, let us know to profile them Notably, CPA scored high on all areas of the upcoming state achievement test. Each Blitz in upcoming PARADIGM issues. Ohio Achievement Assessment: math, reading has a different theme, which is carried over and science. How did this happen? Just how into the classroom with costumes, songs, PSI did low-level academic performance scores art, short quizzes, etc. In this manner, the test 2112 Case Parkway South, Suite 10 rise to the top tier of schools in Ohio within 4 is no longer feared but rather an opening of PO Box 468 years? Until Mr. Carr arrived in July of 2007, many doors with many additional possibilities. Twinsburg OH 44087-0468 the teachers felt they had little leadership. 800-841-4774 The performance index score at that time [email protected] www.psi-solutions.org