No one is immune to school

SULLIVAN COUNTY — September is just around the corner and the preparation for returning to school has already begun. Most stores have stocked their shelves with school supplies, paper, pencils and erasers, notebooks and other stationary items. Assorted backpacks line store aisles, not to mention all the latest fall clothing and sneakers awaiting new owners.

“However, while you are gathering all the back-to-school items, don’t forget to include a checklist of your child’s immunizations,” says Carol Ryan, director of Public Health in Sullivan County. “Is your child up to date? Is he or she missing a vaccination that could prevent a return to school in the fall? If you aren’t sure,  call your pediatrician, doctor or Public Health Nurse to eliminate any concerns you might have.”

New York State recommends:

To enter school all children must have proof of immunization against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and Hib. Last year, Hepatitis B was added to the list of required vaccines. All returning seventh grade students were required to show proof of immunization against Hepatitis B or the beginning of the series with intention to complete. This year, compliance with the Hepatitis B regulations will be strictly enforced.

Requirements for school immunizations are constantly changing. A vaccine against chickenpox (Varicella) has been developed. One dose is required for pre-Kindergarten, daycare and nursery school for those children born on or after January 1, 2000. Children born on or after January 1, 1998 will be required to have proof of one dose to enter Kindergarten. If the child has had chickenpox, a doctor’s documentation is needed to wave the administration of vaccination for school entry.

Immunizations aren’t the only concern when thinking of returning to school. With the heat of summer come unwanted guests — head lice. This sesame-seed-sized insect, which feeds on the scalp and causes itching, can disrupt an entire family and make life miserable for every family member. “Although lice infest adults as well as children, the majority of cases in the United States are found in children under the age of 12,” said Ryan. “Kids get infested because they are more likely to share tight quarters and gather in large groups. But adults commonly acquire lice from their children, so it’s important that the whole family check themselves, daily, when someone in the house is infected.”

According to Ryan, “Anyone who has hair is at risk for head lice. These parasites prefer clean hair. There is no need to be embarrassed. Lice are a common problem, regardless of your age, health or hygiene.”

To avoid getting lice, remind your child not to share clothing, especially hats or scarves, barrettes, scrunchies, combs or brushes. Comb your child’s hair daily to catch the problem early.

If your child gets lice, wash the hair with shampoo designed for this purpose. The shampoo will only kill the live lice. The eggs, called nits, must be removed from the hair shaft with a special fine-tooth comb. A follow-up treatment should be done at 10 days, when the remaining eggs are hatching. If the repeat treatment is done sooner, it will have no effect on the lice that have not as yet hatched. If treatment is done later than 10 days, the hatched lice will deposit new eggs on the hair shaft, and the cycle will repeat.

For more information on child immunizations or head lice treatment and prevention, call 845/292-0100, ext. 1.

Teacher of the year

Delaware Valley Elementary School

WESTFALL — Mrs. Fitzpatrick, a third and fourth grade teacher at the Delaware Valley Elementary School, has been selected as Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year for the year 2001. Nominated by the students in her class, she was selected by the local store and her name was forwarded to the national headquarters of Wal-Mart, in Bentonville, Arkansas, during the winter months of this past school year. Fitzpatrick was chosen by a special committee to receive the award for the Tri-State region. She was presented with a $500 prize by Wal-Mart on August 6.