Salting my ice now

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.

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?

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.

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.

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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.

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Can you add pepper? Or garlic? Seriously, my daughter would eat the salty ice ? ?

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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.

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Specializes in school nursing.
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.

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Specializes in school nurse.

If you really want to lower the allure of ice, add in little bits of chopped broccoli... (or any similar healthy vegetable derivative.)

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I clean my ice machine out with disinfectant wipes twice a month, otherwise mold grows. I sure hope no one is eating it...

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Specializes in School Nursing, Pediatrics.

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.

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Specializes in ICU/community health/school nursing.
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....

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Specializes in School nursing.
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.

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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 ?‍♀️

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