Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs)
On January 17, 2012, the Enfield School Nurse's Association gave the Enfield Town Council at check for $5, 976.00 towards the purchase of AEDs for the 7 elelmentary schools.  The school nurses had held fund raisers and solicited donations to raise the funds.  The Town Council then allocated the remaining funding and Enfield EMS took care of purchasing the AEDs and the wall boxes the AEDs are housed in.
AEDs have been at JFK Middle, Enfield High and Enrico Fermi High since 2005.  Now every school has an AED inside an alarmed box in a central location available at any time.  Let us hope they never have to be used! 

New Immunization Requirements for Preschool, Kindergarten and Grades 1, 7, and 8

The Connecticut State Legislature passed additional immunization requirements for entrance into Preschool, Kindergarten and seventh (7th) grade effective for the start of the 2011 school year.  The new immunizations then advance a grade each school year.  Therefore the immunization requirements for the 2012/2013 are as follows:

GRADES 7-8
Tdap/Td: 1 dose for students who have completed their primary DTaP series. Students who start the series at age 7 or older only need a total of 3 doses of tetanus-diphtheria containing vaccine, one of which must be Tdap
Polio: At least 3 doses. The last dose must be given on or after 4th birthday
MMR: 2 doses separated by at least 28 days, 1st dose on or after the 1st birthday Meningococcal 1 dose
Hep B: 3 doses, last dose on or after 24 weeks of age
Varicella: 2 doses separated by at least 3 months-1st dose on or after the 1st birthday; or verification of disease

NEW IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS for incoming freshman attending college in Connecticut after August 1, 2010.
    Section 10a-155 of the Connecticut general statues will require that each fulltime or matriculating student (those enrolled in a degree-seeking program) provide proof of adequate immunization against measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and varicella (chicken pox).
MMR Vaccine
All incoming freshman will be required to show proof of 2 doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine.  The doses should be separated by at least 28 days with the first dose given on or after the first birthday.   
Varicella Vaccine
All incoming freshman will be required to show proof of 2 doses of varicella vaccine or proof of disease.  For vaccine, the 2 doses should be separated by at least 28 days with the first dose given on or after the first birthday.  For proof of disease, there must be documentation from a physician that the student had a confirmed case of such disease. 

If you have questions about these new requirements, please contact the CT state department of immunizations @ 860-509-7929.

If you have questions about your child’s immunization status, please contact one of the following – 
            Your child’s healthcare provider
            The nurse at the high school your child attend
                        Enfield High – Jackie Smith @ 860-253-5544
                        Fermi High – Karen Bishop  @ 860-763-8829          
             The nursing supervisor for Enfield Public Schools
                         Trisha Vayda @ 860-763-8830 


NEW LICE REGULATIONS

Administrative Regulation 5141.221
Regulations For Pediculosis Prevention And Management

Pediculosis (Head Lice) Head lice cause infestation of the scalp/hair, but do not carry disease and are not a public health threat.  In accordance with current public health standards and evidenced-based medical recommendations, Enfield Public Schools adopts the following procedures:1.      School nurses will educate parents, staff, and students regarding the myths and facts of head lice transmission and infestation on a regular basis at the elementary level (at least yearly), and as needed.  
    a.       Each fall the nursing supervisor will provide elementary principals with an informational letter about the district’s policy to send to all parents and guardians; 
    b.      School nurses will collaborate with the principal and PTA president to discuss parental education opportunities.  Such education will emphasize the low transmission rate in school and the critical role that parents play in the prevention and control of outbreaks.  It will also emphasize the important role that parents play in notifying the school nurse of a case in their family so that other families with children in the same classroom can be alerted, and will include guidance for staff regarding possible modes of transmission in school.  
    c.       If an outbreak occurs at the middle or high school level, the school nurse will educate students, parents and staff, as indicated by the situation.2.       The definitive diagnosis of active head lice infestation requires the detection of a living louse. (The presence of nits indicates a past infestation that may not be currently active.)
    a.       When a case of active head lice is reported at the elementary level, the school nurse will ensure that families of students who are in the same classroom (and others if indicated) are notified of a known case, using the district’s pediculosis notification letter along with an informational sheet.  
    b.      School nurses will assess individual students for active infestation of head lice when referred by teachers or deemed appropriate by the school nurse (e.g., student complains to nurse of an itchy scalp).  3.      If a student has an active case of head lice, the parents will be notified and provided with current information for managing the infestation, and the student will be excluded from school.  The student can return to the classroom when he/she no longer has an active infestation which will be determined through examination by the school nurse.  4.      If parents request that a school nurse examines his or her child for possible head lice, the school nurse will do so with at least one parent (or designated family member) present to learn proper technique for use at home.  5.      The names of students identified with an active case of head lice will be kept confidential and will not be shared with other school staff, including classroom teachers, unless there is a legitimate educational reason.  The names will never be shared with other parents.6.      Assessments for readmission to school the next day will be managed with as much privacy as is possible.7.      Mass screenings of students will be conducted only under special circumstances deemed appropriate by the school nurse in consultation with the nursing supervisor.  For example, screening of an entire classroom in grades PreK-3 may be deemed appropriate if several students in this young age group are identified with an active infestation.8.      Screening for head lice will always be a lower priority in the health office than care related to injuries, acute illnesses and chronic health conditions.