Industry Hot Topics

We hope this section is a valuable resource to find out information on hot topics and current events in your industry. If there is a hot topic in your industry that you would like us to write about, or if you would like to gather information about a hot topic, submit it to School Health Corporation. Please contact us at info@schoolhealth.com Click on the Hot Topics below.

Peanut Allergies in School
Approximately 2%-3% of all school age children in the U.S. suffer from true immunological food allergies according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In a school of 500 students, that means 15 students may have some type of food allergy which is life threatening.

Schools and parents create "peanut-free" zones to keep kids safe

http://www.med.umich.edu/prmc/radio/2003/nuts.htm

Peanut Allergies in Young Children - Early Childhood Information Clearing House

Approximately 2%-3% of all school children suffer from a food allergy. The most common allergens are milk, peanuts and tree nuts, wheat, soy, eggs, fish and shellfish. Peanut allergies appear to have become more prevalent over the years and have received a massive amount of attention in the media recently. These changes may be linked to an increased number of vegetarians and children consuming peanut butter. The focus on increased peanut allergies has sparked radical movements such as peanut bans on airlines and in schools. What are the facts pertaining to peanut allergies?

http://www2.state.id.us/dhw/ecic/HW/Qpeanut_allergies.htm

Students with Peanut Allergies Need Special Monitoring

Learn how to manage a peanut allergy in elementary school.

http://www.pta.org/parentinvolvement/healthsafety/hs_oc_peanutallergy.asp

Skippy Peanut Butter - Allergy Education

Education from the American Peanut Council and helpful tips to manage food related allergic reactions.

http://www.peanutbutter.com/allergy.asp

National Immunization Awareness Month
NPI has designated August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). Each year, this commemorative month increases awareness about immunization across the lifespan as parents and children prepare for the return to school, and the medical community begins preparations for the upcoming flu season. NIAM provides an opportunity to create positive messages for the media and to highlight local, grassroots immunization initiatives.

This website also features NIAM opportunities, NIAM promotional kits, NPI Excellence in Immunization Awards and NIAM 2002 Local Activities.
For more information on NIAM or to request a complimentary copy of the NIAM Promotional Kit, please call Mischka Garel at (703) 836-6110 or e-mail her at mgarel@hmhb.org.
http://www.partnersforimmunization.org/niam.html

August 2003 - National Immunization Awareness Month - CDC
This year's campaign is focused around the theme "Are You Up to Date?" Vaccinate!" to remind people of all ages of the importance of immunization. Find out how you can get your free NIAM promotional kits.

http://www.cdc.gov/nip/events/niam/default.htm

August is National Immunization Awareness Month!

Learn about important live satellite broadcasts and webcasts that provide up-to-date information on the rapidly changing field of immunization. Anticipated topics include: influenza vaccine, including recommendations for the use of the new live attenuated intranasal vaccine; pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; recommendations for the use of new pediatric combination vaccines; an update on smallpox vaccination program, including recommendations for the use of smallpox vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox; and an update on global polio eradication.

Also learn about the 2003 Immunization Registry Conference on October 27-29th in Atlanta, Georgia.

Learn about the Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Courses being offered in:
Indianapolis, IN - September 9-10, 2003
Torrance, CA - November 17-18, 2003
Sacramento, CA - November 20-21, 2003

http://www.shots4tots.org/meetings.htm



National Poison Prevention Week
National Poison Prevention Week is March 17 to 23. Learn more about how you can help reduce deaths and injuries due to poisonings.

	1.	Keep medicine and household chemicals locked up and out of reach, and out of sight of young children at all times.
	2.	Use child-resistant packaging because it saves lives.
	3.	Call (800)222-1222 to get immediate treatment advice for poison emergencies.

		Learn CPR
		Support AED programs in your community
		Learn more about American Heart Month. Call 877-AHA-4CPR or visit http://www.americanheart.org/love

	1.	Go to "CPR & ECC" information http://www.americanheart.org
	2.	Enter in your zip code in the "Find a class near you" box in the upper right corner of the screen.
	3.	This will give you a list of Community Training Centers. Look for centers that indicate "Yes" in the CPR/BLS/AED column. This indicates that they offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training.
	4.	Call the trainer center nearest you that offers CPR/BLS/AED training.

		Provide a supportive learning environment for students with diabetes
		Reduce absences
		Reduce disruption in the classroom
		Provide necessary support in an event of emergency
		Achieve full participation in physical activities
		Foster self esteem

	Basic Diabetes Information Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use Insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes I is currently a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and exercise appear to play a role. The two major types of diabetes are:
		Type 1 - A disease in which the body does not produce any insulin, most often occurring in children and young adults. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 to 10 percent of diabetics. People without diabetes produce insulin in their pancreas.
		Type 2 - A metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to produce enough, or properly use, insulin. It is the most common form of diabetes. It accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diabetes.
	Important information for Diabetes Health Care Providers Most health care providers will more than likely run across a child with Type 1 diabetes at some point in their career. This section will give additional important information regarding children with diabetes, offer suggestions for how to care for children with diabetes, and other good sources of information. Children with diabetes face two problems that need to be understood by the healthcare provider in their care. They are hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. The symptoms and how to treat each one are listed below:
		Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar is too low due to too much insulin, too little food, or too much exercise. Children with low blood sugar sometimes behave erratically or act sleepy, are often very hungry and shaky. You must treat this immediately by giving the child foods with simple sugars, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice or regular (not diet) soda. If you suspect that a child in your care has low blood sugar, do not leave that child unattended because the child could lose consciousness.
		Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs when the blood sugar level is too high, due to too little insulin or too much food. These children often act lethargic and sleepy, and are often very thirsty and need to go to the bathroom a lot. High blood sugar is treated by giving additional insulin and sugar-free drinks, such as water or diet (not regular) soda. You must treat this condition immediately. They must be given free access to water and to the bathroom whenever they feel the need.
	How is Diabetes Treated? Children with Type 1 diabetes are treated with insulin injections, blood sugar monitoring, and a carefully managed diet and exercise. Frequent blood glucose tests help determine the correct amount of insulin to inject and help identify low and high blood sugars. Children must be allowed to test their blood sugar at school. Depending on the arrangement set-up by the parent, testing can be done in the classroom or in a health clinic/school nurses' office.
		Insulin Injections - Insulin must be injected because normal production in a diabetic is broken down by the digestive system and is rendered ineffective. Some children use an insulin syringe for the injections. They must inject several times a day, usually before each meal. Other students in your care may use an insulin pump instead of taking injections. A thin tube connects the pump to a small canula (thin tube) inserted under the skin that delivers insulin continuously. Children usually give themselves extra insulin to cover each meal. Pen injectors may also be used by the children and again, can be done in the classroom or health clinic/school nurses' office. In this case, injecting through the clothes is perfectly safe.
		Blood sugar monitoring - Children with diabetes check their blood sugar many times per day. A blood sugar check involves pricking a finger with a lancet and placing a drop of blood on a special test strip. A blood sugar meter analyzes the test strip and reports the blood sugar level, usually in less than one minute. Some children with diabetes are required to do blood sugar checks during the school day. Many do a check before lunch. Doing a blood sugar check is simple enough that most grade school children can be taught how to do it themselves. Younger kids might need some adult supervision. Depending on the arrangement made with the parent and the school staff, blood sugar monitoring may be done in the classroom or in a school clinic. Regardless of where a child performs blood sugar checks, they must be allowed to check at school according to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
		Meal Planning - Children with diabetes usually follow a meal plan. The parents should notify teachers and health care providers of any specific instructions, such as what foods should be avoided and what to do when other students bring in food treats. Children with diabetes who require snacks during the school day should be allowed to have them to ensure proper medical care.
		Exercise - Diabetes does not prevent a child from participating in any exercise or outdoor activity. However, it can be a challenging time for kids with diabetes since exercise, like insulin, works to lower blood sugar. Children with diabetes often eat an additional snack before participating in strenuous exercise. It is a good idea to have a supply of emergency glucose on hand to treat hypoglycemia.
	Helpful Links: Diabetes Management at School Healthcare Needs of Students with Diabetes CDC Diabetes Features state contacts, articles, and a diabetes fact sheet and opportunity to ask about diabetes Diabetes in Children and Teens Comprehensive information on juvenile diabetes including advances, treatments, and special considerations for parents, caregivers, teachers and others who will interact with children and teenagers with diabetes. Diabetes Management and Training Centers, Inc. Offers training and courses to diabetes professionals. Guidelines for the Care of Students with Diabetes in the School Setting New Jersey Department of Education official guideline on care of students with diabetes. Children with Diabetes - School Health Care Action Plans for Diabetes/ Hypoglycemia Children have Rights in School Their mission is, "We would like to make changes in local and national legislation regarding this.." School Nurse Checklist for Diabetes Care at School

	Asthma in Children Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism. It is also the leading cause of hospitalization among children.
	SchoolAsthmaAllergy.com Asthma and allergies in school - tools to help the school nurse manage asthma in schools.
	Asthma and Upper Respiratory Illnesses Asthma is the leading chronic illness in children of the U.S. and leading cause of school absenteeism due to this chronic illness.
	How Asthma Friendly is your School Parents and school staff will find the following resources useful for determining how well their school setting accommodates children with asthma.
	Library Helpful resources such as Asthma Care and Minorities, Asthma Inhalers at School, Asthma Meds Risk Tooth Enamel and Asthma signs for Parent Education.
	Back to School - Health Tips for Children with Asthma What makes a child's asthma worse, helpful to have a school nurse, health aide and teacher involved in asthma management.
	Asthma Site for Parents, Teachers and School Administrators A place where parents, teachers, and school administrators can find information on keeping kids with asthma and allergies safe at school.
	IAQ Tools for Schools - Managing Asthma in Schools The most common cause of children being hospitalized. Find out what triggers asthma, take an asthma quiz to test your knowledge and learn important asthma facts.
	American Lung Association Asthma can be a life-threatening disease if not properly managed. In this section, you will find in-depth information including asthma and older people, teens and asthma, asthma medicines and attacks, peak flow meters, and home control of allergies and asthma.

	Sports Trauma "Red Bag" Vital Sign Trending When an athlete collapses during sports play, a skillful on-the-field assessment is required to determine both the cause and the severity of sports trauma. Here are the tools and knowledge from the pros.
	National Athletic Trainers' Association Public Statement
	NCAA guidelines for the preventions of heat illness - Revised June 2001
	Recommendation for Hydration to Prevent Heat Illness
	Heat Stress and Athletic Participation

Currently, a person who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital has only a 5% chance of surviving. Scientific research has confirmed that the single most important determinant of survival from SCA is rapid defibrillation. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is the only way to save their life, but most victims do not have timely access to defibrillation.

Ninety percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims who are treated with a defibrillator within one minute of arrest can be saved, but every minute that a person goes without treatment decreases a person's chance of survival by 10 percent. While a defibrillator has a 97 percent success rate in terminating ventricular fibrillation, fewer than half of the nation's ambulance services, less than 15 percent of emergency service fire units, and less than 2 percent of police vehicles are currently equipped with an AED.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Schools
Many communities are actively looking into ways to improve access to defibrillation. In addition to equipping firefighters and police, many are now equipping schools with automated external defibrillators, due to the fact that Sudden Cardiac Arrest has been increasing significantly over the past several years among students. It is important to realize that sudden cardiac arrest does happen to children as well as adults, sometimes due to a blow to the chest during a sporting event or a genetic defect.

Many school districts and community members are initiating programs to equip their schools with AEDs and to provide training to staff. Here are just a few of them:

	News Release from Medtronic - Tenet HealthSystem Donates LifePak 500 AEDs to 14 Philadelphia-Area Schools
	Wisconsin has initiated PROJECT ADAM which is a new program geared toward saving the lives of Wisconsin high school students.
	The Loius J. Acompora Memorial Foundation is a group of volunteers with a special focus on the placement of AED’s in schools. They have developed the “AEDs in the School” kit which detailed the steps necessary to implement a public defibrillation program.
	Indian River School District has a goal of placing AEDs in each of its 15 schools.
	Reno Gazette Journal reports “Ten Schools to get Heart Attack Devices."

Resources

	Product Information: Information on the Lifepak 500 Automated External Defibrillator
	Articles: Portable Defibrillators Protect Fans, Players at High School Athletic Events - will setup links per product information page Why do Athletes Experience Sudden Deaths? will setup links per product information page Planning for Scholastic Cardiac Emergencies - “The Ripley Project” will setup links per product information page
	Books: Automated Defibrillation for Professional and Lay Rescuers Automated External Defibrillation Challenging Sudden Death: A Community Guide to Help Save Lives Heartsaver FACTS First Aid AED CPR Training System RapidZap: Automated Defibrillation
	Legislation Documents: Chart on state AED laws Summary of AED Related Legislation in 107th Congress Cardiac Arrest Survival Act of 2000 Airport Medical Assistance of 2000 FAA Final Rule Rural AED Act Rural AED Act Summary Public Health Improvement Act Adobe Acrobat is required to view or print the above documents. Click the icon below to download a free copy.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q:	What is sudden cardiac arrest?
A:	Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) can be thought of as an "electrical storm" in the heart that does not allow it to beat properly. This abnormal rhythm causes the heart to "quiver" rather than pump blood properly. Without shocking the heart back to a normal rhythm, the victim will most likely die within minutes.
Q:	Who is most likely to suffer sudden cardiac arrest?
A:	Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is unpredictable and can happen to anyone at anytime. The risk of SCA increases with age and previous heart disease, but even a child can become a victim of SCA. In fact, many school systems are implementing AEDs in their districts because of recent sudden cardiac deaths in schools.
Q:	How common is sudden cardiac death?
A:	Sudden cardiac death kills approximately 450,000 Americans each year. That means about 1,250 people a day die from sudden cardiac arrest.
Q:	Is sudden cardiac arrest the same as a heart attack?
A:	No, a heart attack (a myocardial infarction) is very different from a sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest is often mistakenly referred to as a "heart attack" by the public. SCA is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that does not allow the heart to pump blood to the body. The only way to return the heart to a normal rhythm is by shocking the heart with an AED. In comparison, a heart attack is caused by a blockage of blood to the heart muscle which causes the muscle to die.
Q:	How much time do I have to respond to a sudden cardiac arrest victim?
A:	For every minute that the heart is not beating normally, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent. After 10 minutes, the chance of survival is minimal.
Q:	I know CPR, why do I need an AED?
A:	While CPR is very important, an AED is the only thing that can save a SCA victim. Because SCA is caused by an abnormal heart rhythm, you need to deliver a shock to the heart to reverse the abnormal rhythm and return it to normal. This can only be done through the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Q:	Is an AED hard to use?
A:	An AED is very easy to use thanks to advanced technology. There are only 2 buttons on the LIFEPAK 500 - the power button and a shock button. A voice and LCD display will prompt you through the necessary steps and tell you whether or not a shock is advised. The AED will only allow a shock to be delivered if the heart rhythm is shockable. The AED will NOT allow a shock to be delivered if the victim does not need it.
Q:	Do I need to be trained to use an AED?
A:	Yes, you need to be trained to use an AED. The training course is generally given along with a CPR course and is available through American Heart Association, American Red Cross, American Safety & Health Institute, Save-A-Life and other local providers.
Q:	Do I need a prescription in order to buy an AED?
A:	Yes, AEDs are class III medical devices which require a prescription for sale and use.
Q:	Do I need a medical director for my AED?
A:	Every state has different legislation specific to AEDs. We invite you to review state AED legislation information provided on the Medtronic Physio-Control web-site. In the majority of states, medical director oversight is required for the Good Samaritan laws to provide protection.

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