December Health Outlook

Viral season has begun to show itself in all its glory in District 66. The most often described complaint has been stomach ache/nausea, occasionally accompanied by a low grade temperature and headache. It is to the benefit of all our children to allow them time at home to recover fully from illness. When children return to full activity too soon, reinfection often follows. Our school district follows the guidelines set by the Dupage County Health Department which states, “students with a temperature of 100 F (37.7 C) or above, should be dismissed from school, and a student may be readmitted to the classroom if there has been no fever in the preceding 24 hours, i.e., without the use of fever-reducing medication.”

Therefore, in light of this and all the recent publicity about MRSA infections, a reminder that handwashing is of paramount importance seems in order. There is no replacement for frequent, thorough handwashing. Substituting hand sanitizers for handwashing can be appropriate, however, when soap and water are not readily available. Most hand sanitizers contain large amounts of ethanol and /or alcohol, which makes them so effective in eliminating germs from our hands.

Children are especially susceptible to the symptoms of alcohol poisoning, i.e., altered level of consciousness, slow respirations, cold, clammy, pale or bluish skin, and the presence of alcohol on the breath. Because hand sanitizers are often left where chidren can easily access them, it’s important to remember they are not packaged in child-proof containers. They are often scented and colored, which make them more appealing to young children.

Suggestions for keeping your child safe:

*Keep hand sanitizers out of sight and reach as you would prescription drugs.
*Always supervise children when using this product.
*Look for new alcohol-free hand sanitizers.
*Use soap and water when possible.
*Call the Illinois Poison Center 24-hour hotline 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect someone has ingested hand sanitizer.