• Welcome to Van Voorhis Elementary
  • Together: Nothing less than the best
  • Proud member of the Kentucky School District
 eagle
  • Mailing Address
  • Van Voorhis Elementary
  • 120 Folger St. Bldg. 5550
  • Fort Knox, KY 40121-6000
  • Principal: Laura Gibson
  • Phone: (502) 624-5854
  • Fax: (502) 624-7267

Nurses's Notes

Stopping the Spread of Germs in Schools

(facts provided by the Center for Disease Control)

- Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in a school.
- Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.
- Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold alone.
- Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our youth, our schools, and our nation.
- Students need to get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water, and eat good food to help them stay healthy in the winter and all year long.

Take the following steps to protect your family:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

  • Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

 

If your child exhibits the following symptoms they should not be sent to school:

  • Fever 101 degrees or above within the past 24 hours

  • Vomiting

  • Severe diarrhea

  • If your child is too ill to participate in daily activities

  • If your child is being treated for Strep Throat, they must have a full 24 hours of antibiotics before returning to school.

  • If your child becomes ill with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, except to get medical care.  Remember, your child’s fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine before returning to school.   Keep your child away from others as much as possible to keep from spreading germs.   

 

For more information please visit www.cdc.gov or contact me at (502) 624-1484.

 

Good hand washing

Good hand washing protects against the spread of many illnesses from the common cold to more serious such as meningitis, hepatitis A and most type of infectious diarrhea. Good hand washing is the first line of defense against germs.  How to Wash Your Hands Correctly:  There's a right way to wash your hands.  A splash of water and a drop or two of soap won't do the trick.  Follow these simple steps to keep your hands clean: 
  • Use warm water (not cold or hot).
  • Use whatever soap you like.  Antibacterial soaps are popular but regular soap works fine.  If you suspect that your hands have come into contact with someone with an infection, think about using an alcohol hand sanitizer.
  • Rub your hands together vigorously and scrub all surfaces:  Lather up on both sides of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers, and around your nails.  Wash for 15 seconds – about how long it takes to sing “Happy Birthday”.
  • Rinse well under warm running water and pat dry with a clean towel.
In public restrooms, consider using a paper towel to flush the toilet and open the door because toilets and door handles harbor germs.  Throw the towel away after you leave.

Special Reminder

 If your child has asthma, please make sure we have an inhaler at school in case of an emergency.  The inhaler has to be labeled” for school use” and with specific instructions to its use and will be kept in the nurses’ office for your child.  You will have to bring it in and sign a permission slip for us to administer it to your child.

Junior Red Cross

By becoming a member of JRC, your child can:

  • learn first aid and life saving skills
  • support deployed units from our community
  • support community projects
  • support disaster relief efforts
The Junior Red Cross was established in 1917 as an answer to the need for youth involvement in the efforts to help the country through World War I. Millions of kids joined to support and assist victims of war, including refugees and disease sufferers overseas.
Today, Junior Red Cross volunteers work to help Red Cross efforts with office support and work on special projects. Junior Red Cross members participate in service projects that help their schools, their communities and the world. It offers many opportunities for self-development and the ability to choose activities that will address their communities’ greatest needs.
Through Red Cross volunteer work, youth can experience the joy of giving and improving and savings lives. Youth that volunteer realizes a sense of social responsibility and humanitarianism.  Junior Red Cross clubs offer safe, positive environments for young people where they can discover multiple ways to help.
 
 

 

Van Voorhis Lions

Healthy Habits

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