School Nurse

Symptoms:

• Fever, Cough, Sore Throat, Runny or Stuffy Nose, Body aches, Headache, Chills and Fatigue.
• Some may have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
• A few may have vomiting and diarrhea as well.

If you become sick:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw tissue into the trash immediately after using.
• If unavailable, cough or sneeze into crook of arm.
• Avoid contact with others in order to limit the spread of the infection.
• Contact your physician. He/She may recommend antiviral medications. These medications must be started within the first 2 days of symptoms and may make your illness milder and shorten the time you are sick.
• Drink plenty of fluids, and get rest.
• Stay Home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the help of fever reducing medicine.

Substance Abuse Education and Prevention- Massachusetts is one of many states across the country facing a growing epidemic of opioid addiction. Schools play an important role in educating youth about the dangers of substance abuse and in preventing substance use among students. Our goal is to increase students’ understanding of the legal, social, and health consequences of alcohol and substance use to prevent use and abuse among students, provide parents and guardians with educational opportunities regarding the warning signs of substance use/abuse and referral resources, and teach student’s self-management, social, negotiation, and refusal skills that will empower them to make healthy decisions and avoid alcohol and substance use.

SBIRT- SBIRT stands for screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment. It is a short, effective screening tool meant to assess whether a longer conversation about the risks and consequences of alcohol and/or drug use is warranted. This screening utilizes the most common tool for substance use for adolescents in Massachusetts, the CRAFFT. This tool is attached for your review. This program focuses on harm prevention and education.

• National Institute for Drug Abuse
  (301) 443-1124

• Substance Abuse Hotline
  (800) 662-4357 (HELP)

• National Drug Information Treatment and Referral
  (800) 662-4357 (HELP)

• Narcotics Anonymous
  (866) 624-3578

• Alcoholics Anonymous/AA
  (508) 752-9000

• Al-Anon/Alateen
  (508) 366-0556

• Community Health Connection
  (978) 343-6259 ext. 227

• CareNet
  (978) 342-4244

• Planned Parenthood-Fitchburg Health Center
  (800) 258-4448

• National Domestic Violence
  (800) 799-7233

• LUK, Inc.
  (978) 345-0685

• Rape Crisis Counseling
  (800) 870-5905

• Community Health Connection
  Fitchburg: (978) 878-8100
  Leominster: (978) 847-0110

• Mental Health Emergency
  (800) 977-5555

• National Suicide Hotline
  (800) 273-8255

• Concussion Information

(800) 448-4663