District Nurses

Our district nurse oversees the health rooms at all of our schools and supports each school when addressing health care needs in the classroom. Our district nurses coordinate the health services in the district, are resources to school staff, and serve as a liaison to community partners. Each school also has a health room assistant throughout the day.

Each school also has a trained team member that is trained in first aid and CPR who will assist as needed.

Meningitis Information

Meningococcal disease, commonly known as bacterial meningitis, a rare but potentially fatal infection that can occur among teenagers and college students. While meningococcal disease is rare and difficult to contract, it is very serious. There is now a vaccine that may help to prevent this infection.

Meningococcal bacteria can potentially be transmitted through close contact with an infected person through direct contact with respiratory and/or oral secretions from an infected person. Teenagers and college students are at increased risk for meningococcal disease compared to the general population, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all U.S. cases every year.

Meningococcal disease can be misdiagnosed as something less serious, because early symptoms like high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting and stiff neck, are similar to those of common viral illnesses. The disease can progress rapidly and can cause death or permanent disability within 48 hours of initial symptoms.

Up to 83 percent of all cases among teens and college students may potentially be prevented through immunization, the most effective way to prevent this disease.

A meningococcal vaccine is available that protects against four out of five strains of bacterium that cause meningococcal disease in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other leading medical organizations recommend routine meningococcal immunization for adolescents during the preadolescent doctor’s visit (11‐ to 12‐year‐olds), adolescents at high school entry (15‐year‐olds) if they have not previously been immunized, and for college freshmen living in dormitories.

For more information about meningococcal disease and immunization, please feel free to contact our school nurse at 262‐250‐6483 or visit the following websites to learn more about meningococcal disease, vaccine information, and public health resources visit the following web sites.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services communicable disease fact sheet
American Academy of Family Physicians, www.aafp.org
American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org
Meningitis Foundation of America, www.musa.org
National Meningitis Association, www.nmaus.org

FAQs

When should I keep my child home from school?

Your child should stay home if:

They have a fever greater than 100 degrees (a student must be fever-free for 24 hours without medication in order to return to school).
Serious cold symptoms like coughing, sneezing, severe nasal congestion that would interfere with learning.
Diarrhea or vomiting.
Open sores with drainage.
An undiagnosed rash.
Sore throat that interferes with swallowing or with a fever or rash.
Untreated head lice.
Pinkeye.
Headache severe enough to interfere with learning.
Cough with wheezing or moderate to severe chest pain.

What medical issues does my school need to know about?

Your school should be notified of any condition that could require treatment at school or could pose a serious risk if staff is unaware of the condition.

Examples of such are:

asthma
a seizure disorder
severe allergy
a condition being treated by a heart specialist or cardiologist.

Please fill out a care plan and contact your school's health room. This will signify a medical alert in powerschool that will notify staff of the condition.

All care plans need to be updated at the beginning of the school year.