Little Free Library
Our CHIPS Little Free Library- such a fun way to help foster a love of reading in our preschoolers! Feel free to stop by with your child and borrow a book! Please remember to return the book when you are finished:) If you have books at home that you would like to donate, please put them in the Little Library or send them into CHIPS with your child. Thank you!!
Health News
Spring and summer are common times of year for Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (Coxsackie Virus) to spread. Here's some helpful information about this common viral illness.
What is it? Hand, foot, and mouth disease is a common illness of infants and young children, most commonly caused by a virus called coxsackievirus, usually in in the summer and fall, but you can get it any time of year. Symptoms include mild fever, poor appetite, and a sore throat. One or 2 days after the fever begins, tiny blisters develop in the mouth. A skin rash also develops over 1–2 days with flat or raised red spots, some with blisters. The rash is not itchy and is usually found on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Illness is usually mild and most people get better in 7–10 days.
How do you catch hand, foot, and mouth disease? It is spread when the virus from stool or saliva gets on hands or objects and then onto other people’s hands and into mouths. A person is most contagious during the first week of the illness but they still can have the virus for many weeks, especially in their stool. People usually get sick 3 to 7 days after being exposed to the virus.
How is hand, foot, and mouth disease treated? There is no specific treatment for hand, foot, and mouth disease.
When can your child return? Because it is common and usually mild, children can continue to go to child care and schools as long as they:
- Remain 24 hours fever free (without the use of fever reducing medicine)
- Have no uncontrolled drooling with mouth sores.
- Feel well enough to participate in classroom activities.
Please take these precautions:
1. Watch your child and family members for signs of hand, foot, and mouth disease.
2. If you think your child may have hand, foot, and mouth disease, call your health care provider for instructions
3. Contact the school nurse if your child has hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Always wash your hands with soap and running water after using the toilet, changing a diaper, helping a child use the toilet, and before touching food or eating. Also wash your hands after wiping or blowing noses or after touching nose, throat, or eye secretions. Babies and children need their hands washed at these times, too. Encourage your child not to share food, drinks, or utensils at school.
Please use our absence line (978-251-5188 Option 0) or our attendance email (chipsattendance@chelmsford.k12.ma.us) to report your child's absence from school and be sure to state the reason for the absence (illness, appointment, travel, etc). If your child is out due to illness, please let us know the nature of the illness (fever, vomiting, cough, etc.).
Nurse Kristen can be reached by calling the CHIPS main number (978-251-5188) and selecting option 3.
Chelmsford Integrated Preschool
Email: mcguirkm@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Website: https://chelmsfordschools.org
Location: 170 Dalton Road, Chelmsford, MA, USA
Phone: (978)251-5188