I'm salty. I learned that 3-5th grades are consuming the (probably potable but you never know) ice from my ice packs. Someone here told me about salting the ice. So I'm about to start, after I send the teachers an email asking why.....why...for the love of all that is good, why? 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 9 by OldDude OldDude works as a School Nurse. 7 Followers; 1 Article; 28,840 Visitors; 4,762 Posts I learned from this site...don’t let the ice packs leave the clinic. I was blown away at how the usage decreased. I would estimate at least a 75% decrease. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by CampyCamp, RN CampyCamp has 18 years experience as a RN. 646 Visitors; 158 Posts 14 hours ago, OldDude said: I learned from this site...don’t let the ice packs leave the clinic. I was blown away at how the usage decreased. I would estimate at least a 75% decrease. My kids just don't work that way. They will sit out their perceived injury in the health room even during recess. If I let them sit in the sick room, they get too cozy. If I put them in the waiting area, they act as walmart greeters and triage nurses. If I have them sit near me, they stare as I do paperwork or eat my breakfast. So if it's recess, they stay but any other time, they can hold ice in class. I presume it ends up neglected on the desk. I don't know why it doesn't work for me! I'd love to put my foot down and refuse to give ice 75% of the time but then the parents complain that I'm mean and the principal caves- and any parent complaint adds a family and a health problem to our "must make phone calls" lists. 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by CampyCamp, RN CampyCamp has 18 years experience as a RN. 646 Visitors; 158 Posts Can you add pepper? Or garlic? Seriously, my daughter would eat the salty ice 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by AdobeRN AdobeRN works as a Pedi RN. 9,276 Visitors; 1,092 Posts 15 hours ago, OldDude said: I learned from this site...don’t let the ice packs leave the clinic. I was blown away at how the usage decreased. I would estimate at least a 75% decrease. I am going to try this next school year and see how it goes. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by CanIcallmymom CanIcallmymom has 4 years experience. 681 Visitors; 241 Posts 15 hours ago, ruby_jane said: I'm salty. I learned that 3-5th grades are consuming the (probably potable but you never know) ice from my ice packs. Someone here told me about salting the ice. So I'm about to start, after I send the teachers an email asking why.....why...for the love of all that is good, why? YAASSSS. I am such a scrooge with ice. These highschoolers will make up any reason to get it. 39 minutes ago, CampyCamp said: I'd love to put my foot down and refuse to give ice 75% of the time but then the parents complain that I'm mean and the principal caves- and any parent complaint adds a family and a health problem to our "must make phone calls" lists. When I refuse ice, I either send a quick email (depending on the kid) to the parent or phone call saying, "I saw your sweetinnocentchildthatwasn'ttryingtoskipclass for XYZ (usually something that happened the day before). I didn't want them to miss class to ice it because my assessment was normal, so I sent them back to class. If they're still complaining at home, you can ice it, sure, or maybe even have it checked out because I can't see through to make sure nothing is actually wrong in there..." Yall, I'm glad I have high schoolers. Usually I just look at them funny for bumped elbows and goofy stuff and they say "I don't really need ice do I?" Then we share a laugh and I tell them no, it will go away w/ time and not every bump needs an immediate ice pack because they are about to be in the big leagues. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by Jedrnurse, BSN, RN Jedrnurse has 25 years experience as a BSN, RN and works as a school nurse. 11,326 Visitors; 1,165 Posts If you really want to lower the allure of ice, add in little bits of chopped broccoli... (or any similar healthy vegetable derivative.) 14 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by BiscuitRN, BSN, RN BiscuitRN has 4 years experience as a BSN, RN and works as a School Nurse. 1,816 Visitors; 417 Posts I clean my ice machine out with disinfectant wipes twice a month, otherwise mold grows. I sure hope no one is eating it... 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by scuba nurse 3,624 Visitors; 446 Posts I give one small measly ice cube, (I make ice in ice cube trays that are in the shape of a pumpkin) that melts relatively quick so no time to eat it, and then they act surprised that the ice melted and they have a baggie of water. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by ruby_jane, BSN, RN ruby_jane has 10 years experience as a BSN, RN. 3 Followers; 7,995 Visitors; 2,271 Posts 17 hours ago, OldDude said: I learned from this site...don’t let the ice packs leave the clinic. I was blown away at how the usage decreased. I would estimate at least a 75% decrease. Not an option. I have two beds and I would have kids in here all day.... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by JenTheSchoolRN 23,285 Visitors; 2,436 Posts 9 minutes ago, BiscuitRN said: I clean my ice machine out with disinfectant wipes twice a month, otherwise mold grows. I sure hope no one is eating it... Oh, they are. Even my HS students do it. I give ice. I hate doing sometimes, but for my MS students, they will complain and complain and keep visiting me (and teachers let them!) until I give ice because they perceive it as me "doing something." It is why I have an ice machine. Way cheaper to do this. The pop one time ice packs are for sports first aid kits. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
May 10 by BiscuitRN, BSN, RN BiscuitRN has 4 years experience as a BSN, RN and works as a School Nurse. 1,816 Visitors; 417 Posts 1 minute ago, JenTheSchoolRN said: Oh, they are. Even my HS students do it. I give ice. I hate doing sometimes, but for my MS students, they will complain and complain and keep visiting me (and teachers let them!) until I give ice because they perceive it as me "doing something." It is why I have an ice machine. Way cheaper to do this. The pop one time ice packs are for sports first aid kits. I had one kid ask for ice "to eat," and I told him 1. this is not a convenience store and 2. the ice is tainted with disinfectant and not made for eating. His face told me he's eaten it before. I've told the teachers I clean it with disinfectant so hopefully they'd stop the kids 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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