Nancy Tullis, RN, is the school nurse for Alternative Classes and TEP (Therapeutic Education Program). Both educational programs are housed at the Klein ISD Annex building. Call (832) 249-4805 to contact the school nurse.

If any medication should be dispensed at school, parents must complete and sign the Medication Authorization Form and bring the medicine to school in its original pharmacy container. Parents are responsible for transfer of medications from home and other district campuses; school personnel and students cannot transfer or transport medications. Also, medications are not sent home with students. Students cannot report to school in possession of any medication, prescribed or over the counter, without following these procedures. Violation could result in further disciplinary action or expulsion from school.

Klein ISD is working to prevent the spread of flu in our community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 4 main ways you and your family may keep from getting sick with the flu at school and at home:
1. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.
3. Stay home if you or your child is sick for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of fever-reducing medicine). Keeping sick students at home means that they keep their viruses to themselves rather than sharing them with others.
4. Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu when vaccines are available.
The district’s efforts include continued vigilance by plant operations to clean high touch surfaces nightly. In addition, we are reemphasizing our efforts to promote good hand washing and cough etiquette. Campus nurses will monitor student health in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the CDC.
Klein ISD will post timely information at www.kleinisd.net. Additional resources can be found by visiting www.flu.gov.

Influenza is currently widespread in Texas. However, there are ways to keep you, children, and our school community healthy. Parents are to keep children home from school if they have a fever of 100 or higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, as well as the Texas Department of State Health Services, recommend that schools exclude students until they are fever free for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol ®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®/Advil®).
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Place dirty tissues in the trash immediately. Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose. Wash your hands frequently. It is recommended that hands be washed for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol based disposable hand sanitizers may be used. Make sure children get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water and eat good food to help them stay healthy. If you or your child falls into a high-risk group, contact your health care provider to see if a flu shot is available to you.

For further information on ways to protect you and your family visit www.kleinisd.net/default.aspx? name=iss.sss.health.home or the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

Texans can now dial 2-1-1 to receive over-the-phone medical guidance about what they should do if they or a family member have flu symptoms.

The state’s 2-1-1 health information helpline is now staffed with medical professionals who can provide information about managing flu symptoms and advice on when to seek medical care from a physician or emergency room.

“We want to help people make informed decisions about how to care for themselves and their families,” said Dr. David Lakey, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services. “Most H1N1 and seasonal flu cases can be successfully treated at home, without having to go to the doctor or without an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.”

The guidance is not intended to replace specific instructions people receive from their physicians, Lakey said.

The 2-1-1 staff also can provide general flu information and vaccine availability information for individuals and health care providers. Calls are answered round-the-clock. Callers are instructed to choose a language and then press “6” for flu information and guidance.

Basic flu symptoms include fever, cough and sore throat that usually come on suddenly. Most cases are relatively mild to moderate and do not need emergency treatment. Most people who have H1N1 flu or seasonal flu just need appropriate fluid intake, fever-reducing medication, rest and careful monitoring, Lakey said. Recovering at home also lessens the burden on the health care system.

People with underlying health conditions who think they have the flu should contact their health care provider.

The flu information and guidance service is provided through a DSHS contract with the 2-1-1 Texas Information and Referral Network operated by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

For more information about flu in Texas, visit DSHS’ www.TexasFlu.org.

The Houston Fire Department and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Care Van have teamed up again in 2009 to offer free childhood immunizations at your neighborhood fire stations. The immunizations are FREE. All you need to bring is your children, your identification and your children's immunization records. Immunization times are 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Thursday, August 6 Fire Station 51 6902 Bellaire Blvd.
Thursday, August 20 Fire Station 11 460 T. C. Jester
Thursday, September 3 Fire Station 29 4831 Galveston Road
Thursday, September 17 Fire Station 59 13925 S. Post Oak Road
Thursday, October 1 Fire Station 44 675 Maxey Road
Thursday, October 15 Fire Station 70 11410 Beamer Road
Thursday, November 5 Fire Station 76 7100 Cook Road
Thursday, November 19 Fire Station 32 8614 Tidwell Road

Visit the Houston Fire Department website at www.houstonfire.org for more information. Any questions? Contact the HFD Public Affairs office at 713-495-7900.

Reye's syndrome is a serious disease that can occur when someone with a viral illness such as the flu or chicken pox takes a product that contains aspirin. The syndrome usually presents itself as the person is recovering form the viral illness. The main targets of this illness are the liver and brain. Reye's syndrome is not contagious and is often misdiagnosed. Symptoms of Reye's syndrome are continuous vomiting, listlessness, drowsiness, personality changes, confusion, combativeness, delirium, convulsions, and loss of consciousness. Suspect Reye's syndrome in anyone who vomits continuously after using products that contain aspirin. Seek immediate medical care for anyone exhibiting these symptoms.

Many products contain aspirin. Read medication labels carefully looking for ingredients such as acetylsalicylate, acetylsalicylic acid, salicylic acid, calculate, and aspirin. Products containing these ingredients should be avoided during episodes of any viral illness. While Reye's syndrome can affect people at any age, the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation, the U.S. Surgeon General, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be taken by anyone under 19 years of age during fever-causing illnesses. For more information, visit the Klein ISD Health Services Web site, contact your school nurse, or visit the National Reye's Syndrome Foundation Web site at www.reyessyndrome.org.

Health insurance coverage can benefit students and their families. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is designed by the state of Texas for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance for their children. CHIP provides eligible children with coverage for a full range of health services. Contact the school nurse for a CHIP application.

Documents that will verify CHIP application information are: a birth certificate and Social Security number for each child, a recent paycheck stub from all family members who work, or the family's last year's W-2 tax form. To verify cash income, a dated and signed letter from an employer is required. The proof letter must include the worker's name, the amount earned, and how often the person is paid.

In addition, all students in Klein ISD have the opportunity for secondary accidental medical coverage.