http://www.softsoap-schools-offer.com/

Click on the link and fill out the info…you’ll get 12 bottles of liquid hand soap for your clinic!

The CDC in Atlanta, GA , www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ has good, reliable information regarding the newest media craze – the Swine Flu…check out printable handouts for your patients and parents to help them be prepared, in the effect of a pandemic, or isolated cases…

Rhinosinusitis: Saline sinus rinse recipe

Saline sinus rinses can often bring relief to patients with chronic sinus or rhinitis problems without the use of medication. Often, people with chronic or acute sinus infections produce excessive mucus and sinus rinses are helpful to remove and thin out secretions. Several different commercial sinus rinse devices are effective and available without prescription; patients should choose a product based on their personal preference. Saline sinus rinses may also rinse out allergens, irritants, and germs and remove possible triggers that bother people with sinus and rhinitis problems.

The rinses are easy to use, but may seem unusual at first and may take a little “getting used to”. Most patients are very satisfied and experience much-needed relief with their use.

Ingredients
The various proprietary brands have pre-made packets that may be convenient for patients. Equally effective is the following recipe that may be made at home from two easily accessible ingredients:

• Pickling or canning salt, containing no iodine, anti-caking agents or preservatives, which can be irritating to the nasal lining
• Baking soda

In a clean container, mix three heaping teaspoons of iodine-free salt with one rounded teaspoon of baking soda and store in a small airtight container. Add one teaspoon of the above recipe to eight ounces (one cup) of lukewarm distilled or boiled water. Use less dry ingredients to make a weaker solution if burning or stinging is experienced. For children, use a half-teaspoon with four ounces of water.

Directions
Get a soft rubber ear bulb syringe, infant nasal bulb or a commercial nasal saline rinse product from your drug store and administer the rinse by following these steps:

• Draw up saline into this product and instill approximately four ounces of solution gently into the right nostril with your head tilted downward and rotated to the left. Breathe normally through your mouth and in a few seconds the solution should come out the other nostril. Repeat the process by rotating your head rightward and instilling four ounces of solution gently into the left nostril.
• You may need to adjust your head position so the solution does not go down the back of the throat or into the ears.
• To prevent the solution from going into the ear and causing discomfort, blow the nose very gently.
• You may now use your prescribed nasal medications and they may work better than before the sinus rinse. Do not use sinus rinses if the nasal passageway is severely blocked.
• It is recommended to use the sinus rinses in the shower so they don’t create a mess, but they may also be used over a sink.

The link for the AAAI below gives you the printable or downloadable recipe for the ‘make at home’ saline rinse…

As with any medical product, be sure to speak to your doctor about using sinus rinses and stop using if you experience pain, nosebleeds or other problems. Your allergy/immunology specialist can advise you and provide detailed information for your care.  http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/sinusitis/rinse.stm

Shown in the picture above is the Neti Pot…you can buy in in most pharmacies and it is the device I use, personally…  http://www.healingdaily.com/exercise/neti-pot.htm 

 
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On March 29, 2009, Robert Stewart stormed Pinelake Health and Rehab, a long-term care facility in Carthage, NC, shooting and killing eight people.

Among the victims were seven facility residents and a 39-year-old nurse, Jerry Avant Jr., LPN.

Check it out at http://lpn.advanceweb.com/Article/In-Memoriam-Jerry-Avant-Jr-LPN.aspx

Lingering effects from concussion?

Check out the article by Sandy Keefe, RN, MSN, in the online magazine, Advance For Nurses…Field Day is coming up and this is really good information to have…

Well, I had my photoshoot for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 2009-2010 Building Bridges Calendar!  What an honor to be chosen!  My mother is very proud…I don’t know about anyone else!  :)

Maybe a few days at the Beach…

or a few days at Walter F. Georgia Reservoir in Ft. Gaines, GA…which would you choose?

I don’t know about your school, but I have been ‘hoppin’ over here!  We no sooner get rid of the ‘stomach virus’ than it rears it’s nasty head again!  Thank goodness for Spring Break next week!  Maybe we can all get well and come on back to school and take the CRCT and feel good doing it!  I am even seeing staff sick with reactions to pollen that haven’t had those problems before!  Everyone who speaks to me is hoarse, including me!  I have had to pay $75.00 co-pay for an Advair inhaler myself, in addition to the Singulaire I take every night!  As for Fifth’s Disease, you know how that goes, right?  The teachers send them to the Health Clinic for red cheeks and next, parent contact – “has your child had any S/S of a cold, fever, or just laying around?”   “No, He/She is not contagious, now, this happens after the worst is over”.  We have had a lot of pregnant teachers, this year, so I just refer them to their OB?GYN…hope you have a good Spring Break if yours is next week…if it’s not, eat your heart out!

Good Morning GASN Members!
Another baby step has been made!  Yesterday the Senate subcommittee voted on the budget and the 2.1 M for the School Nurse Program remained in the budget.  This budget now goes to the full Senate for a vote. The Senate gets 48 hours to review the budget so the vote will probably be on Wednesday.  We are hoping the full Senate approves this.  It still has to go back to the House and then to the Governor.  Please keep calling your Senators and Representatives!  This is our last chance to get the word out on how important this issue is!  Also, don’t forget Governor Perdue!  We’re so close!!! This could not have been done without you!  There is no doubt about that…. Thank you!  Have a wonderful Tuesday!
Respectfully,
Joanne Giel, RN
GASN President