Central Nurse

 

 

 

 

  Marcia Ferlin-Hutnik,
  MSN, RN, Il-NCSN
  Nurse
  815-727-6780
  mferlin@jths.org

 

"Welcome to the Health Services web page! Central's Health Office is in room 295 and is staffed by a nationally and state certified school nurse and a health aide. Minor first aid is given and students who become ill at school will have parents/guardians notified to arrange for the student to go home. Please be aware that per school board policy, no medication is dispensed in the health office unless the student has provided the medication and the required district permission forms are signed and in the Health Office. This includes over-the-counter medications such as cough drops, Tylenol, ibuprofen, sore throat lozenges, etc. For students who need to take medications at school, the required medication form is in the planner or it can be downloaded here:

http://www.dhs.state.il.us/OneNetLibrary/27897/documents/schoolhealth/Exam_form2011_pg1and2_final.pdf  (English)

Physician-Prescribed Medication Form 

Parents/Guardians: Please keep a copy of your child's immunization records in a safe place. These are records that your child will need throughout life.

 

The state of Illinois has recently changed the law with regards to immunization for pertussis. Pertussis, known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is increasing in frequency in the state of Illinois. It is caused by a bacterium Bordatella pertussis. Pertussis is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which often makes it hard to breathe. After fits of many coughs, someone with pertussis often needs to take deep breaths which result in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.

Beginning with school year 2012-2013, students entering grades seven through 12 who have not already received Tdap (defined as tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis - trade names Boostrix or Adacel) are required to receive 1 Tdap dose regardless of the interval since the last DTap, DT or TD dose, and shall show proof of receiving one dose of Tdap prior to the start of the school year. The Tdap is not the same vaccine as the ones listed above.

Health office staff members are reviewing all health records and many students already have the necessary proof of having received a Tdap. Written notice will be sent to the parents/guardians of all students for whom proof of this vaccine is necessary. The student must receive a Tdap (which is not the same as DTaP) and the proof of the vaccine must be verified by the health care provider via their signature. Please keep a copy of this proof prior to turning it in to the health office.  Because so many students in the state of Illinois are affected, please contact your child's health care provider as soon as possible. If no one is able to verify whether the last dose given was Tdap, the Illinois Department of Public Health mandates that the child get the Tdap vaccine.

If parents/guardians or health care providers have questions about the new requirement, the Illinois Dept. of Public Health can be contacted at their toll free number: 1-800-526-4372.