My name is Elizabeth Saunders and I am happy to be the school nurse at Westridge Elementary School. Please do not hesitate contacting me with any of your concerns or questions. You may contact me via email [email protected] or you may call the front office, 703-590-3711.
When Should I Keep My Child Home From School?
Students will be sent home from school or should be excluded from school (per regulation 757-1) for the following reasons:
- Fever of 100 degrees and over - exclude until student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications.
- Conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep infections, ringworm, and impetigo are all infections and must be treated with medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school.
- Rash of unknown origin (especially if accompanied by a fever)
- Head injury
- Severe coughing or difficulty breathing
- Colds - a child with thick or constant nasal drainage should remain at home
- Diarrhea or vomiting - exclude until student has been symptom free for at least 24 hours
- Stiff neck associate with fever and/or recent injury
- Inadequate immunizations with known disease outbreak in school
- Refer to the VDOH Communicable Disease Reference Chart for School Personnel for other exclusions/information.
As we are entering the cold and flu season, this is a reminder of the best health practices to decrease the spread and transmission of viruses in PWCS schools.
Please remember to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough, or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may also be used to preform hand hygiene. Remember to stay hom
Medications at School and Special Health Conditions
Special health conditions can be managed at school. If your student needs medication at school, it needs to be brought into the clinic by an adult, in the original sealed container, and accompanied by the proper paperwork. See the forms tab to the left for medication authorization forms, asthma action plans, and other health treatment plan forms. Please don't hesitate to speak with me if you have questions about managing your student's special health condition at school.
Food Allergy Awareness
We have many students at Westridge Elementary school with life threatening food allergies. Please remind your student of the importance of not sharing food during snack or lunch. Also, please consider peanut and nut free snack items that will be eaten in the classroom. If your child has a food allergy and does not yet have an allergy action plan in the clinic please contact me.
Hearing and Vision Screening
Kindergarten and third grade students have their vision and hearing screened during the first months of the school year. You will be notified only if there is a problem with results of either screening. Vision screening may be performed by volunteers with the Lake Ridge Lion's Club. They use a Spot Vision Screener which takes a picture of the eye and screens for a variety of eye and vision problems.
Kindergarten Parents
Please consider packing a change of clothes in your student's backpack. We have a very limited supply of clothing available in the clinic.
Emergency Cards
Parents and guardians please make sure the school has up-to-date contact information for all persons listed on the emergency card. This is crucial when trying to contact parents and/or emergency contacts regarding illness and/or injury at school.