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Association News

Promoting HPV Prevention in the School Setting
This NASN School Nurse article is opened to all audiences for a limited time.  It includes a discussion about timely and persistent education and prevention efforts that are needed in school settings to increase vaccination rates and decrease HPV morbidity.  Access this article.

Online Educational Program Provides HPV Vaccine Decision-Making Tools
The HPV Vaccine - Enhancing School Nurse Knowledge to Support
Informed Vaccine Decision-making ▬ Learn the reasons to prevent HPV infections, current recommendations for the vaccine, and more in this online program while earning 1.5 CNE contact hours.  Access the NASN Learning Center.

The Meningitis Vaccine - Teens Need a Booster Dose
Many teens are not up to date on their primary and booster meningococcal vaccinations. The Voices of Meningitis™ Campaign from Sanofi Pasteur and the National Association of School Nurses aims to raise awareness among parents about the danger and prevention of meningococcal meningitis and the need for vaccination for their teens.  Visit the campaign's site for more information.

Upcoming Webinars in our Step Up and Be Counted! Series
NOTE: NASN will strive to archive webinars for those unable to attend.

Planning, Communication and Cooperation Help Reduce Back-to-School Worry for Parents of Students with Diabetes
Reporter-Times
Martinsville-Morgan County, Indiana
For parents of the more than 200,000 children younger than 20 living with diabetes, having a plan in place before the school year even begins will ensure their children have access to the diabetes care they need every day. "Having a set plan in place at the beginning of the school year helps ensure a child living with diabetes always has access to the daily and life-saving emergency care they need to stay safe and healthy at school," says Linda Siminerio Registered nurse and co-chairperson of the American Diabetes Association's Safe at School Working. Access the article.

HPV Vaccine is Cancer Prevention
HPV vaccine ensures safe, effective, and lasting protection against most cancers caused by HPV infection in boys and girls.  The vaccine works best when given at 11 or 12 years of age.  A recent press release discusses this underutilized vaccine and includes an educational infographic.  Access this information from the CDC.

Vaccines on the Go: What You Should Know
This mobile app was developed by the Vaccine Education Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is available for iOS and Android devices.  It provides users with reliable information about the science, safety and importance of vaccines and the diseases they prevent.  Learn more about the app or download.

Oral Injury Prevention Through Use of Mouth Guards Protects Your Smile
A mouth guard is an important piece of protective athletic gear. Mouth guards, especially custom made ones, can help cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth or injuries to lips and tongue. For information and resources including fact sheets, visit the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors website. 

Rid Your School Playground of Pesky Mosquitoes
Outdoor play structures can double as prime mosquito breeding habitats if water sits in them for more than four days.  School nurses can raise awareness and promote a mosquito-free campus by encouraging the buildings and grounds staff to keep outdoor areas free of standing water with an emphasis on playground equipment, toys, garbage cans, dumpsters, and gutters.  Learn more about pest management from EPA's PestWise.  Access a School IPM Action Plan for Mosquitoes from eXtension, a research-based learning network.

Pediatric Environmental Health Training Resource
The Children's Environmental Health Network has released an updated training resource on pediatric environmental health for health care providers.  Putting It Into Practice: Pediatric Environmental Health Training Resource includes 12 modules; each having a user guide. Access this training.

NASN's Calendar of Events lists upcoming events for school nursing professionals.  Events happening soon include:

Helping Administer to the Needs of the Student with Diabetes in School

August 13, 2014

Hagerstown, Maryland

SAVE THE DATE!
NASN2015, June 24-27, 2015, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (pre-conference June 23, 2015)

Healthfinder.gov's National Health Observances site lists special days, weeks, or months dedicated to raising awareness about important health topics.