SCHOOL NURSE

Sue Thomas, RN   525- 5490 x3 

 Summer is coming fast!  There is nothing like the warmth of the sun after winter.  I do want to take this opportunity to remind you, however, to be careful in the sun while you enjoy it.  

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer.  Most cases are the result of one thing- over exposure to the sun.   I know you have heard the steps to avoid this but I want to remind you of them and of how important it is for you and especially your children to take care.  One serious sunburn doubles a child’s chance of developing skin cancer when they get older. 

The following tips are offered by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

            Short shadow.  Seek shade!  Teach children to go into the shade between 10 am and 3 pm – peak sunlight hours.

            Apply a SPF 15 or higher sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays whenever your child spends time outdoors.  This includes soccer camp, biking, picnicing and the beach!  Be sure to apply sunscreen liberally and evenly to all exposed skin and reapply at least every 2 hours. 

            Fun in the sun needs to be limited.  Limit your child’s time in the sun during hot, sunny days. 

            Every child needs to cover up with wide-brimmed hats and shirts. 

            Sunscreen should not be used on babies less than six months old.  Their ultra-sensitive skin requires they stay out of the sun entirely. 

            Understand that sand, water, cement and snow can reflect as much as half the sun’s rays onto your children’s skin even if they are in the shade. 

            No tan is a healthy tan.  A tan is a sign of injured skin from the sun’s damaging rays- even if your child doesn’t burn first.

 Teach your child sun protection habits that will last a lifetime! 

            For older students- stay away from tanning parlors.  The radiation used in tanning booths can increase your risk of skin cancer, skin aging and eye damage. 

To students and parents alike, have a great and restful summer.  

The good weather is here- hurray!  It’s bike-riding season!  Get out and enjoy this fun activity with your children and when you do teach them the safe way to ride.

            Wear a helmet.  Be sure it is one made specifically for biking.  These are designed to protect your head in case of a crash or fall. Be sure it fits well, is adjusted to your child’s head and covers their forehead.   The chinstrap needs to be tight enough to keep the helmet from slipping forward over the face or backward off the forehead. You should only be able to slip 2 fingers under the chinstrap. Once a helmet has been hit in a crash or accident, it should be replaced.  The impact causes small, invisible cracks that can weaken its shell and the foam can get crushed.

            Be careful coming out of driveways.  Come to a complete stop at the end

             of a driveway and look in both directions before proceeding.

Teach children the rules of the road and to follow them. Ride with traffic

on the right side of the road, never against it.  Teach them what to do

 at traffic lights, stop signs and if they hear a siren approaching.

            Cross at crosswalks and get off the bike and walk it across the road.

            To stop a bike, both brakes should be squeezed smoothly and equally.

            Always pay attention to what is happening around you and watch out

for other people who make mistakes or do crazy things- many accidents

 can be avoided! 

Biking is a blast!  Make it safe too!
 

  It is a time to think about the lifestyle choices that we are making for ourselves and our families in order to live a healthy and active life.  There are 3 things for both adults and children to pay attention to in order to keep our hearts healthy.

1) Eat Healthy food

2) Move around enough

3) Live tobacco free

Eat Healthy food like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low fat meat and poultry.  You’ve heard it all before but it really works!  Pay special attention to eating fruits and vegetables- most of us do not eat enough.  Most fruit and vegetables are low in fat and high in fiber – both of which are important for a healthy heart diet. But fruit and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants, which help to protect against heart disease.

Exercise- and that really means move around enough.  Walk your dog, ride a bike, ski, rake leaves, do a work out, play.  Exercise makes your heart stronger.  A strong heart doesn’t have to work as hard and the stronger your heart, the longer it will last. 

Live tobacco free- if you smoke, STOP. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Smoking doubles your risk of having a heart attack. Teach your children the dangers of smoking and keep your home smoke free.

Lead a healthy life, have a healthy heart!

***Important, Please Read!

WELLNESS POLICY – in an effort to alleviate confusion over baked goods for classroom celebrations we are asking that you send in your recipe at least one month ahead of time.  The Director of Food Services will approve recipes that fit our policy guidelines.  With your permission, we will post these recipes on the school website for everyone’s use.  To cut down on this frustration you may want to consider a small food-free celebration idea such as stickers, pencils or donating a book to the library through our Celebration Book Club!                                                                                                             

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