Health Tip of the Week - November 16
 Gaining
weight is one holiday tradition no one wants to keep
Mastering a few cooking techniques can help you
create a healthier diet without losing the flavor. Try these
tips when preparing your holiday meals:
-
Cut down on saturated fat in creamy dressings
by mixing in nonfat or low-fat plain yogurt instead of
mayonnaise.
-
Use non-stick cookware so you can cook with a
minimum of oil or vegetable oil spray.
-
For a wonderful flavor enhancer, sprinkle
vegetables and salads with vinegar or citrus juice. Add it
at the last minute so the flavor is at its strongest.
-
Substitute chopped vegetables for some of the
bread in your stuffing recipe.
Source: The
American Heart Association |
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N1H1 Flu (Swine Flu)
 (PARENTS)
As students return to campus activities it is possible that students may
be exposed to a Type A flu that could potentially be the H1N1 flu (Swine
flu). Please be aware that physicians are not required or is it CDC’s
recommendation to confirm H1N1 flu by extensive testing. If the flu
sample taken by the physician indicates type A flu it is being treated
as if it is the H1N1. While this relatively new (novel) flu has
generally been mild and most individuals recover without incidence it is
highly contagious and has been known to cause serious complications thus
students experiencing flu like illness should seek medical attention for
testing and treatment. Flu like illness symptoms are: fever, cough,
sore throat, body aches, and extreme fatigue. Your assistance in
monitoring for flu like illness and taking active precautions will help
to prevent the possible spread of this flu ... |
 Pandemic
101: N1H1 Flu (Swine Flu)
(ADMINISTRATORS) What is a pandemic:
A pandemic is a
global disease outbreak. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new
influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the
human population, begins to cause serious illness and then spreads
easily from person-to-person worldwide.
Why all the fuss:
The Pandemic could impact our personal lives, family, and work:
Rapid Worldwide Spread,
Overloaded
Health Care Systems, Inadequate Medical Supplies, and Economic,
Education and Social Disruption.
To read more about the
impact of pandemics ... |
|
 Free
and Reduced Cost Immunizations
Dear Parents: We are informing parents about the new shot requirements
for the 2009-2010 school year. All students entering Kindergarten or
7th grade next year will be impacted by the new requirements for
immunizations. The following immunization clinics will provide families
access to free or reduced cost for immunizations. Parents please check
your student’s shot records to be sure they will be ready for school and
please take advantage of the clinics listed. |
|
 Pandemic Flu Prevention
This letter will help your family prepare
for a new school year and prevention of a flu outbreak that has made
many people sick. It is important to know that at this time,
the novel virus H1N1 continues to be present around the world causing it
to be a pandemic due to the virus being widespread. Here are additional
ways to protect your family:
■
Family Checklist
■
Tips for Parents on Coping with Pandemic Flu |
 New
Immunization Requirements for 2009-2010
Dear Parents: We are informing parents about the new shot
requirements for the 2009-2010 school year. All students
entering Kindergarten or 7th grade next year will be impacted by the
new requirements for immunizations. We are also holding
immunization clinics to provide students with the opportunity to get
their immunizations at low or at no cost. I have attached the new
immunization requirements plus the letters to this year's Early
Childhood students and this year’s 6th graders to help them become
compliant on entering school next year. I have also attached the letter
of notification from Department of Health and Human Services.
Parents please check your student’s shot records to be sure they will be
ready for next year and please take advantage of the clinics that are
mentioned in the letters. |
|
Care Van Provides FREE
Immunizations
 Using
its fleet of specially customized mobile immunization Care Vans, the
Care Van Program is able to ... conduct immunization outreach clinics in
the communities where these at-risk families live and work. In addition
to offering free childhood immunizations, the Care Van Program
also offers free health screenings at most of its health education
community events. Health screenings include blood pressure checks, body
fat and strength tests. |
Immunization Requirements
 Texas
law requires that all children entering public or private schools and
institutions of higher learning be immunized. Validation of
immunization records by a physician or public health clinic will be
required for entering school. Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus, Polio,
Measles/Mumps/Rubella, HIB, Hepatitis B, Varicella, Hepatitis A,
Pneumococcal Conjugate ... |
Crypto Outbreak Information for Schools
 (Elementary
Teachers)
As you may be aware, we are experiencing an
outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis throughout Dallas County. As a
preventive measure, Dallas County Health and Human Services is
contacting area school districts to ask for your assistance in getting
information to your elementary learning community staff and
parents. This would include PreK, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th grade classes. |
 Public
Health Preparedness and Response Newsletter
Each month the Dallas County Health & Human Services
department publishes a newsletter about public health that helps you be
prepared and know how to respond to various current health issues:
summer heat, West Nile virus, salmonella, etc. |
District Procedure for
Provisional Enrollment Due to Immunization
Texas laws require a student to be fully immunized prior to admission to
a public school. All immunization should be completed by the first date
of enrollment. Provisional enrollments are allowed under the
following conditions... |
Letter About Staph (MRSA)
Prevention
 There
is a great deal of information in the media about staph infections in
schools. In the interest of keeping Irving ISD parent’s well informed,
the following letter will provide information and suggestions regarding
staph infections ... (Also)
attached you will find guidelines and procedures developed by the Texas
Department of State Health Services to assist you with the prevention
and spread of MRSA. |
|
Everything You Need to Know about Head Lice
 What
should I do if I think my child has lice?
You can take care of your child’s head lice problem at home without a
visit to the doctor or clinic. Treatments can be purchased without a
prescription at pharmacies or grocery stores. Many parents feel
embarrassed when their child has lice. Sometimes it helps to talk
to someone experienced in talking to parents of children with a head
lice problem. The nurse at your child’s school, your doctor, and even
the pharmacist can help.
(read
more) |
|
Drug Awareness and Prevention |
Strawberry Meth:
Drugs Being Marketed to Children
 In
our continuing efforts to inform parents and families about the dangers
of illegal substances affecting our youth, Irving ISD is sending you
another letter regarding drugs being marketed to children. This letter
is to inform you about a new form of crystal methamphetamine. It is
called Strawberry Meth or Strawberry Quick and it is also being sold to
a younger population of children. Strawberry flavoring is being added
to methamphetamine to give it a strawberry candy look and flavor. It
also looks like the "Pop Rocks" candy that sizzle in your mouth. In its
current form, it is dark pink in color and has a strawberry scent to it.
|
New
Campaign Urges Texans to Prepare for Emergencies
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) launched a new
campaign today (October 29, 2007) encouraging Texans to prepare
themselves and their families for potential disasters — from hurricanes
to influenza. “Ready or Not? HAVE A PLAN” or “¿Estás Listo?
HAGAMOS UN PLAN” uses radio, television, newspaper and outdoor
advertising; community outreach events; and a new interactive Web site
to encourage every Texan to create an emergency plan.
|
Dangers of Cheese Heroin
 Information
from the Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) about the
dangers of “Cheese,” a drug made from Heroin and Tylenol PM. You may
have heard information on “Cheese” in the media lately and how it has
spread quickly throughout Dallas. Irving ISD wants to continue
partnering with you to help keep your children safe and also help keep
you aware of this fast growing concern....
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Notice
HB 1059, also known as the Emily Lastinger Act, requires school
districts that maintain a website to post the list of immunization
requirements and recommendations in English and Spanish. In an effort
to align the mandated information in a user-friendly format...
Read More
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