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MRSA is fast becoming an all too common acronym. It stands for Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus, an antibiotic resistant strain of staph that is now commonly found in our communities, our schools, on our hands and in our nasal passages. {sidebar id=38}
Many people can carry MRSA in their nasal passages and on their skin and do not realize that they carry it. It can cause havoc with our health when it finds its way inside our body through a skin abrasion or cut. MRSA infections can lead to painful boils, flu-like symptoms and sometimes death.
Recent national news reports have made MRSA infections known to a wider audience. This notoriety is positive as it can help educate the public about the growing problem.
Lake County has had a significant increase in MRSA cases over the past few years. Lisa Valdez, RN, Infection Control Coordinator at Sutter Lakeside Hospital & Center for Health reports: “Since 2004 we have seen a 1000 percent increase in patients arriving at our hospital outpatient areas with Community-Acquired MRSA. This increase is not unique to Lake County though. This is part of a national trend that we are just beginning to experience.”
As schools around the country begin to learn about the growing and worrisome problem of MRSA, schools in Lake County are lucky to have a cutting edge educational program to educate students and families. The Healthy Kids Are Contagious program at Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Center for Health has a middle and high school program that directly addresses MRSA education and prevention. This program targets schools because the close contact of students puts them at risk. Students are also notorious for not washing their hands regularly; the most important factor in curtailing the spread of the MRSA bug.
“We saw the potential for serious MRSA problems in our schools and sports programs and created and implemented a program last school year to address the need to educate kids and their families,” says Tammi Silva, Public Relations Director at Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Center for Health.
This program called “Playing it Safe” brings nurses and doctors directly to the school site to educate students in seventh through 12 grades. Through a dramatic PowerPoint presentation and interactive discussion, students learn what MRSA is and the simple steps in preventing it.
“Though the results of MRSA can be scary, our presentation empowers kids instead of frightening them,” says Carrie McClure, School Site Coordinator for the hospital program. “We present the facts and stress to students that they have the power to create their own good health through good hygiene and making their body strong through good nutrition, exercise, and positive thoughts. Kids are listening and sharing the information we give them with friends and family.”
The Healthy Kids are Contagious program also implements a hygiene program for first graders called “Flu Crew to the Rescue.” Though not directly aimed at MRSA prevention, the same hygiene measures that keep you from contracting the flu work for preventing the spread of MRSA; wash your hands and body thoroughly and often with soap, don’t share personal items such as towels, water bottles, P.E. uniforms, and sports equipment and keep your body healthy for the times those nasty germs do sneak in.
If you would like to know more about the Healthy Kids are Contagious program or see a listing of all the school site offerings, log on to www.sutterlakeside.org or call Carrie McClure, School Site Coordinator at 262-5039, Extension 1.
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