Flu cases decline but Nurse Cota says vigilance still needed

There’s good news on the influenza front as cases of the virulent influenza A virus are declining.  However, influenza B cases are on the rise. Already two students have been diagnosed with influenza B.
 
Fortunately, the flu vaccine is more effective against this weaker strain and people don’t get as sick. But students and others who contract influenza B will likely need to miss several days of school or work.  The flu shot, which is still available, offers protection against influenza B.

Allergy season
Some of you may have noticed that your daughter has already started to experience seasonal allergy symptoms. That’s because our warm and sunny winter has caused pollen counts to rise to well over 8 for the last several weeks. Most seasonal allergy sufferers experience symptoms at 4. This means your daughter already needs to start taking her allergy medication on a daily basis to have the most relief from her symptoms. You can easily follow pollen counts here at Mayfield Senior School and your neighborhood by logging onto Pollen.com  and entering the zip code. 

Health records and medications
Just a quick reminder to update your daughter’s health record in Magnus if she starts, stops or changes medications. We need to have to have current medical information to provide your daughter with safe care here at school.

It’s important to review Mayfield’s Medication Policy. In general, students are allowed to have only an epipen or asthma inhaler on their person or in their locker or car. All medication is to be stored and taken only in the Health Office. If you’d like your daughter to be able to take medication other than what we have in the Health Office, you can provide me with the medication in its original packaging and I’ll dispense it as needed to your daughter.

If you’d like to read our Medication Policy in its entirety, you can access it on the iMSS Resource page by clicking on the School Forms and Handbooks link; it’s under Medical Forms and Policies.

Please let me know if you have any questions; I’m here to help!

In good health,

Cathy Cota, RN PHN
School Nurse
(626) 799-9121 ext. 205 
 
About Nurse Cota: Cathy Cota brings 35 years of pediatric nursing experience to Mayfield, where our students see her “nursing is caring” credo in action every day. The mother of two Mayfield alumnae, Rachel ’04 and Carolyn ’06, Cathy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and Public Heath certificate from Cal State Los Angeles and is a certified personal trainer.


 
Back
No comments have been posted
Established in 1931, Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, CA is a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young women grades 9-12. Noted for its rigorous academic program, which includes 28 Advanced Placement and Honors courses, Mayfield’s curriculum is underscored by a philosophy of educating the “whole child,” which also encourages commitment to and excellence in the arts, athletics, community service and spiritual growth. The nurturing environment at Mayfield Senior School allows each student to flourish in an atmosphere of personal attention.