Student Body Odor - Page 2

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  1. Mar 1 by
    This may be a simple case of a teen who hasn't yet realized the necessity of "deodorize before you socialize," but it's important to confirm that there isn't anything under the surface that needs more than some teaching and some deodorant...

    My LPN class was made up of equal parts of federally employed NA's, single parents receiving AFDC, and "general admission"students from the community. One of my classmates was a single mother of 4 children, living up in the hilltowns somewhere. She did not have a car, but the Dept. of Public Welfare did provide transportation to and from classes and clinicals. At some point during the winter, several of us noticed that her uniforms were clearly unwashed, her stockings were full of holes, and her hair was visibly greasy and unkempt. Worst of all was her body odor. She seemed to be aware of it, and she kept toiletries in her locker and tried to clean up as best as she could during breaks and lunch.

    One morning, she was called out of class and never returned. Apparently, she had had a minor house fire several weeks before, and while most of the home was still intact, she lost electricity and phone services. Without electricity, her well didn't work, so she had been getting drinking water from neighbors and melting snow to for water for flushing the toilet. Her sole source of heat was a wood stove, and they were using candles and kerosene lanterns for light. Somehow, someone discovered the family's living conditions, and had reported them to DCF.

    We felt horrible. None of us had considered asking her about how things were going at home. When her hygiene started slipping, no one mentioned it to her, although we rolled our eyes and made faces behind her back. We never thought that offering to help her with such a (relatively) minor problem may have benefited her entire family. This is one of the top five "missed opportunities" I've experienced, and I will remember and learn from it for the rest of my life.
    intheweeds, NRSKarenRN, sharpeimom, and 4 others like this.
  2. Mar 1 by
    My son could be one of those stinky boys at school. He can take a shower, go outside for 5 minutes and come back smelling like a monkey's backside. When the smell is particularly bad, I can smell him when he walks in the house. The worst part about it all is that he does not care. We have been trying all sorts of deodorants and finally found one that helps. One suggestion that I have not seen posted yet is contacting the parents. Talk to them in a non-judgmental way and express your concern that the student may start to get made fun of because of their odor. Sometimes the parents may not know how bad it is, or that their kid should be wearing deodorant. I believe that if you call the parents showing concern for their child, they will respond in a positive manner.
  3. Mar 1 by
    Please be gentle and private. I was the child of immigrants and our family bathed once a week. For church. Everyone we knew did the same thing. Clothes were worn until visibly dirty and then washed. We did laundry once a month, when we washed the linens. That was the way things were done in the old country where water and soap were precious and laundry was done by hand.

    In this culture, that is crazy, but that is what I was taught was "normal" at home. And the kids were mean and nasty to me in middle school and I didn't understand why since I was as clean as the rest of my family was. It wasn't until high school when a lady who was cutting my hair gently told me that it was best for my hair and skin if I washed at least every other day. Then I learned to do my own laundry.
    NRSKarenRN, sharpeimom, caregiver1977, and 2 others like this.
  4. Mar 1 by
    Quote from mercurysmom

    My LPN class was made up of equal parts of federally employed NA's, single parents receiving AFDC, and "general admission"students from the community. One of my classmates was a single mother of 4 children, living up in the hilltowns somewhere. She did not have a car, but the Dept. of Public Welfare did provide transportation to and from classes and clinicals. At some point during the winter, several of us noticed that her uniforms were clearly unwashed, her stockings were full of holes, and her hair was visibly greasy and unkempt. Worst of all was her body odor. She seemed to be aware of it, and she kept toiletries in her locker and tried to clean up as best as she could during breaks and lunch.

    One morning, she was called out of class and never returned. Apparently, she had had a minor house fire several weeks before, and while most of the home was still intact, she lost electricity and phone services. Without electricity, her well didn't work, so she had been getting drinking water from neighbors and melting snow to for water for flushing the toilet. Her sole source of heat was a wood stove, and they were using candles and kerosene lanterns for light. Somehow, someone discovered the family's living conditions, and had reported them to DCF.

    We felt horrible. None of us had considered asking her about how things were going at home. When her hygiene started slipping, no one mentioned it to her, although we rolled our eyes and made faces behind her back. We never thought that offering to help her with such a (relatively) minor problem may have benefited her entire family. This is one of the top five "missed opportunities" I've experienced, and I will remember and learn from it for the rest of my life.
    This made me really sad. Especially because this girl/woman was trying to better her life. I hope that whatever happened, she was able to return to school eventually. I will try to remember this story and learn from it as well.

    As another poster, DawnJ, mentioned, this may be a cultural thing. You could bathe daily, but still have body/perspiration odor if you don't use deodorant, and in some countries, they don't use it. So it isn't even always a matter of bathing.

    Not sure how I feel about telling a student directly - that could be mortifying for some kids. But I guess the alternative is being osctracized by their peers, and that isn't good either.
  5. Guide
    Mar 2 by
    And the Beat goes on...
  6. Mar 2 by
    Our 5th grade history teacher gave a lesson on deodorant. His class was after gym, and I don't think he could take
    it any longer. After a while he singled out individual students. This was during the 70's when you speak more freely.
  7. Mar 3 by
    This is a hard one....I speak to the classes at the beginning of each year and then I speak with "prime offenders" individually during the year.

    The family I have most problems with is one where, frankly, the Dad smells HORRIBLE and I scootch over by my window when he shows up in my office (Mom insists the kids DO bathe every day, which seems highly doubtful). When I speak to the kids of this family, I tell them that "in our culture, the norm is to bathe every day" (I agree with you, DawnJ, that culture can def. play a role). Not that they seem to care much about cultural norms. So sad....

    First poster: GREAT work you did!!!! That sounds like a wonderful class you ran!
  8. Mar 4 by
    perhaps some genetic disease process?
    Quote from Sudsy
    This is a hard one....I speak to the classes at the beginning of each year and then I speak with "prime offenders" individually during the year.

    The family I have most problems with is one where, frankly, the Dad smells HORRIBLE and I scootch over by my window when he shows up in my office (Mom insists the kids DO bathe every day, which seems highly doubtful). When I speak to the kids of this family, I tell them that "in our culture, the norm is to bathe every day" (I agree with you, DawnJ, that culture can def. play a role). Not that they seem to care much about cultural norms. So sad....

    First poster: GREAT work you did!!!! That sounds like a wonderful class you ran!
  9. Mar 4 by
    I have found the best way is the most direct. (Im in HS) and usually I get a phone call from a teacher. I will then try to subtly get the kiddo into my office, shut the door and tell them that sime had expressed a concern about body odor. I try to find out of it is non bathing issue (? access to hot water) a poor hygeine issue, or if their washer (if they have one ) is broken. I offer them my shower, the ability to wash their clothes. Some time I have to be brutally frank. Most times it works. I do usually follow up with a call ( not always) and offer what I can. Sometimes it is their sneakers (especially boys!)

    Never an easy one to broach but I have gotten more comfortable with it over the years....
  10. Mar 4 by
    I have the same issue, only at the upper elementary level. My concern is the parents and their reaction to us having this discussion with their kid? Anybody ever have a problem with that?