Resources for School Nurses
Nurses play a key role in identifying children dealing with effects of elevated lead levels. It is important for nurses to pay attention to behavioral problems such as frustration with classroom work, keeping up with their peers; low academic performance and other signs and symptoms of elevated lead levels. Frequent communication with teachers is helpful to identify children that could be at risk for the negative effects of blood lead level (BLLs).
Experts agree that there is a need for developing safe and effective interventions even for those with low BLLs. Little data available for population of 6-18 year old and lead exposure however chronic lead levels exist in this school-age population. For these children, many times they are screened at a younger age but no follow-up occurred or no screening was done at 1 and 2 years as recommended. Therefore these school age children lacked the opportunity for interventions and continue to deal with the negative effects of lead.
Below is useful information about lead prevention and exposure:
SUSPECTED ELEVATED LEAD LEVEL: WHAT NEXT?