Care of Unwell Boarders (Appendix 1-5)

 

                                                                                                   Children who are vomiting

Children who are vomiting in school will be sent home or back to the boarding house if they are Boarders,  in order to curtail the spread of infection.

Children should not return to school for at least twenty four hours and until they have eaten properly for a whole day.

Any vomit on floors should be covered with Resolve powder or its generic equivalent. This should be left for a minimum of two hours so that the antibacterial elements can work. This should then be swept up using gloves, a dustpan and brush, and the floor should be hoovered. The swept up vomit should be disposed of in the appropriate manner.

                                                                                                  Children who are infectious

Children who are suffering with an infectious condition or illness should not return to school until they have taken advice from their G.P.

$1·                    

                                                                  Bed-wetting ( Enuresis ) in the boarding house

$1·         Boarding house staff will  discuss openly with both the child and parents to find out how they feel

and what anxieties they have.

• They must liaise with the school nurse and doctor to exclude any medical causes.
• Supporting the child and praising their efforts to stay dry is important and more likely to help them.
• It is essential that the issue is managed discreetly to avoid undue embarrassment to the child.

            Management

• Drink plenty during the day, preferably water.
• Avoid fizzy drinks, tea, coffee and drinks with artificial sweeteners - they make the bladder irritable.
• They must have their last drink of the day one hour before bed time.
• They must go to the toilet before bed.
• Avoid washing the genital areas with heavily scented shower gel.
• Wake the child to use the toilet when the staff go to bed, then wake early in the morning to enable showering if necessary.
• Use of a discrete star chart and reward scheme giving lots of positive praise. Encourage any success.
• Use of pyjamas pants and sleep shorts to reduce embarrassment of wet sheets in the dormitory.

Enuresis alarms are 65-80% effective but it is not appropriate in a shared room environment. It could wake the other children, and draw attention to the issue causing embarrassment to the child.

 

                                                                                                                  Sick children in the Sanatorium

Children are admitted to the Sanatorium if they are vomiting, have a high temperature, injury or have a contagious illness.

Our aim is:

• To care for the child’s physical and psychological welfare to promote a speedy recovery.
• To keep their stay as brief as possible as prolonged stays have a negative effect on the child’s psychological welfare.

All children admitted to the San should be seen by Sister Durrant who may refer them to the School Doctor.

During the day the children will be looked after by the School Nurse and House Staff.

At night they will be looked after by the Duty Staff and will be given a walkie-talkie to contact staff during the night.

When a child is admitted to the San they must have their wash kit and towel with them and any personal belongings they require (Dressing gown, pyjamas, teddy bears, games etc.)

The children have the use of a DVD player. They also have access to games and books. Sometimes, when appropriate, school work is set.

                                                                                                                 Children with high temperatures

• should be put to bed in light clothing and with light bed clothes
• they may have a fan on their bedside locker
• they may use a tepid sponge to help to reduce temperature
• they MUST NOT be given extra blankets, as this will increase their temperature
• Sister may prescribe Paracetamol or Nurofen 4 hourly

This regime will continue until their temperature returns to normal

High temperature / Pyrexia

• Low grade 37.8°C -38.5°C
• High grade 38.8°C - 41°C (Staff to watch for convulsions in this range. If convulsions occur, sponge the child down and call for medical assistance)

 

                                                                                                                   Infection Control

It is our aim to prevent and contain all occurring infectious outbreaks

Infectious conditions fall into three categories:

1. Airborne – droplet infection these include: colds, flu, TB, measles , mumps, rubella, chickenpox and scarlet fever,
2. Hand to Mouth – direct contact these include : food poisoning, worms, tummy bugs etc
3. Blood to blood – these include HIV/Aids and hepatitis

To help in the prevention of these conditions we implement the following procedures:

• encourage the use of paper hankies
• frequent hand washing, especially before meals
• Use of hand pump disinfection before meals during an out break of tummy bugs and flu.
• disinfection of school, particularly door knobs
• use of gloves and thorough hand washing when dealing with cuts and body fluids e.g. vomit
• use of absorbent disinfecting powder when cleaning up vomit

Children with infectious illness

• will not be allowed other children as visitors.
• staff looking after the children should always ensure that they wash their hands after tending to the child, to prevent the spread of infection.

Parents will be informed by the Nursing Sister of their child’s condition at an appropriate time.

Any care given must be recorded in the medical book and signed by the carer.

There is a separate Pandemic Policy

 

 

 

 

 

09/01/12 Updated19/3/2013 Sjd