Tick Removal and Information

The following is important first aid information related to tick removal from KidsHealth.org.   For additional in-depth information about tick borne illnesses and prevention, be sure to visit the American Lyme Disease Foundation website at www.aldf.com  If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535. 

Most tick bites are harmless and don't need medical treatment. But some ticks (like the deer tick, wood tick, and others) can carry harmful germs that cause diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. The deer tick is tiny, no larger than a pencil point. Other ticks are larger and easier to find on the skin.

How Do I Remove a Tick?

It's important to remove a tick as soon as possible. Follow these steps:

1. Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin.
2. Pull firmly and steadily until the tick lets go of the skin. Do not twist the tick or rock it from side to side. Parts of the tick might stay in the skin, but eventually will come out on their own.
3. Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water.
4. Swab the bite site with alcohol.

Never use petroleum jelly or a hot match to kill and remove a tick. These methods don't get the tick off the skin, and can make it burrow deeper and release more saliva (which makes it more likely to pass a disease).

What Are the Signs of Tick-Related Diseases?

Watch out for:

• a red bump ringed by an expanding red rash, which looks like a bull's-eye (Lyme disease)
• red dots on the ankles and wrists (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
• flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, tiredness, vomiting, and muscle and joint aches

When Should I Get Medical Care?

Call your doctor if:

• The tick might have been on the skin for more than 24 hours.
• Part of the tick remains in the skin.
• A rash of any kind develops (especially a red-ringed bull's-eye rash or red dots on wrists and ankles).
• The bite area looks infected (increasing warmth, swelling, pain, or oozing pus).
• Symptoms like fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck or back, or muscle or joint aches develop.

How Can I Protect My Kids From Ticks?

• After kids play outside, check their skin and hair — especially the scalp, behind the ears, around the neck, in the eyebrows and eyelashes, and under the arms.
• When playing in wooded areas, kids should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and tuck pant legs into their socks.
• Use an insect repellent with at least 10% to 30% DEET for protection against bites and stings in kids older than 2 years, always carefully following the directions for application.
• Avoid tick-infested areas.

2018-2019 Screening

Hello Cozy Lake Families,
I have completed the screenings for 2018-2019.  All students were screened for vision, hearing, height, weight and blood pressure. 
If I found a discrepancy in their screening, I sent home a referral letter to alert you and suggest you seek further evaluation.  Referral letters will be coming home in your student's backpacks today or tomorrow. 
Please provide me with any follow up information you may receive from your doctor by the end of the year, so that I can update your child's medical record accordingly.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535.

Dr. Harte Visits Cozy Lake Elementary School

On Friday, March 22, Dr. Harte visited Cozy Lake.  He offered an informative, interactive, fun-filled program on dental health to our first and second graders.  Dr. Harte explained that we don't just need to keep our teeth strong in order to chew our food, but also to be able to talk clearly and smile wide.  He reviewed the proper way to brush and floss our teeth 3 times per day.  The kids loved his excitement and energy and truly enjoyed his visit.  He provided each student with a goody bag filled with dental supplies and materials to reinforce his lesson.  Please be sure to ask your child about the visit and what they learned.  Dr. Harte is a local orthodontist with an amazing personality the kids love.  He is located at 6 Apple Tree Lane, Sparta, NJ 07871  (973) 729-5277. 

Sugar Alert!

The drinks that were once an occasional treat are now being consumed on a daily basis by many of our kids!!!  I am surprised  how many students here at Cozy drink high sugar beverages with their lunch.  Many times the students drink them before eating, which results in a ruined appetite.  Not surprisingly, much of their meal ends up uneaten.  In addition, excessive consumption of sugar laden drinks contribute to cavities, diabetes, and obesity.  Please talk to your child about the drink choices they make, both at home and at school, and together discuss ways to limit daily sugar consumption and encourage hydration with water every day.

Share the Love, Share the Water Video

Please also take a moment to click above and watch this short video.  "Share the Love, Share the Water" encourages families to avoid sugar sweetened beverages.  

Is it Cold or Flu?

Every year, I get this question!
It is not always easy to tell the difference between the two....Strep throat and pneumonia may feel like the flu and an illness that seems like a cold, may turn out to be the flu!

The following is a guide to help you...

Questions???                                                      FLU    
               
1) Symptoms come on suddenly?                   YES                     
2) High Fever?                                                    YES   (may have mild fever w. cold)
3) Energy level Low?                                         YES                       
4) Head achy?                                                     YES                     
5) Low appetite?                                                 YES                       
6) Muscles achy?                                                YES                       
7) Chills?                                                              YES                       

What Should You Do?
Those under 5yo or with asthma, may have a harder time with the flu.  Always seek medical attention if your child's symptoms are getting worse, they have trouble breathing, high fever, bad headache, sore throat or seem confused.  Most of the time, treatment consists of plenty of rest, fluids, and comfort.  In some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication to help speed recovery (only effective if given within 48 hours of start of symptoms).

***Prevention is always the best medicine.  Reinforce healthy hygiene habits at home and encourage frequent and effective hand-washing. '

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext 5535.

Cold/Flu Season At Cozy Lake

This winter is flying by!  I cant believe we enter the month of March at the end of the week!  Okay, so I know this is no consolation to those of you who have experienced illness this winter, but I am surprisingly happy to report that Cozy Lake has maintained relatively low absences due to illness for this time of year (knock on wood!). 

That said, though, our first grade population seems to have gotten hit a bit harder than second.  The worst week by far was the last week in January when we saw higher than average absences in the first grade.  When this occurs, we report any pockets of similar symptoms to our cleaning crew, who step up their sanitation/disinfecting procedures as needed.  In addition, we remind the students of the importance of healthy hygiene habits with a focus on consistent and effective hand-washing.  Please help support our efforts by reinforcing good hand-washing habits at home, as well as, keeping your child home if they exhibit illness symptoms in the morning.
 
Good news, the month of February has been relatively calm with only a  handful of students out for illness reasons on any given day.  I am hopeful that Spring in right around the corner and we will be seeing the healthy effects of a brighter sun, warmer weather, and fresh air!

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me at (973) 697-4777 ext. 5535. 

Friday's Theme of the Day: Sleep

Students frequently come to the nurse's office in the morning with the complaint of being tired.

School age kids need 10-11 hours of sleep a night.  Bedtime problems can start at this age for a variety of reasons.  Homework, sports and after-school activities, computers, TVs, mobile devices, and hectic family schedules all can contribute to kids not getting the sleep they need.

Sleep-deprived kids can become hyper or irritable, and may have a hard time paying attention in school.

It is important to have a consistent bedtime, especially on school nights.  Leave enough technology-free time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights-out.  A good rule of thumb is switching off the electronics at least one hour before bed and keep TVs, computers, and mobile devices out of kids'  bedrooms.

Thank you all for actively participating in Wellness Week 2019.  Be sure to consistently review and reinforce with your children the many ways they can take care of their bodies so we can all stay happy and healthy all year long.