CARLENE LOONEY (PHOTO BY KATE BARCELLOS)
Pertussis), Hepatitis B, Polio, Chicken
pox, and MMR (Measles, Mumps and
Rubella). Then when they turn 11, they
need the Tdap booster.”
There are still a few children whose
families file for medical and religious
exemptions to the rule, Looney said.
“The medical exemption, like if they
are allergic to the chicken pox vaccine,
has to be signed by their doctor,”
Looney said. “They sign it once, and
they never have to file it again. The
religious exemption has to be re-filed
every year: They don’t have to state a
case, they just have to claim religious
exemption.”
The trickle of students into her office
is a never-ending one, but many of the
students she sees are neither sick nor
wounded.
At least, not physically.
“Middle school is a tough age,”
Looney said. “A lot of them find their
way down to the nurse’s office around
lunch time...some of them are just
trying to get away from peer conflicts.”
That’s when the medical professionals
put aside their stethoscopes and break
out the maternal instincts, because in
safeguarding their health, school nurses
become very much part-time moms to
their 1000 students, Looney said.
And that means observing possible
signs of abuse.
“We see some sad things,” Looney
said. “We’re mandated reporters,
so oftentimes if there is any sort of
suspected abuse, we’re brought in to
assess for injuries. You see some of
these kids on a routine basis, and you
worry about them out of school.”
Whether it’s a spare shirt from the
extra-clothes closet, ibuprophen, or a
willing ear, Looney said nurses come to
the school every morning prepared for
anything their kids dish out.
“We have multiple roles,” Looney
said. “You just want them to feel
healthy and safe...I try not to take my
work home with me, but you always
think about the kids.”
THANK YOU to our staff and members of our healthcare community for all
the work you do every day to keep the Rutland Region safe & healthy!
R EGIONAL
A
MBULANCE S ERVICE , I NC .
275 Stratton Road, Rutland, VT 05701
.13%9-338 "")4/"&# $ +!-5*-92'8 :// 75 "")4/"00 $ (6,8 "")4/"/"
“Serving People 1st with Pride, Proficiency and Professionalism”
RUTLAND HERALD HOMETOWN HEROES OCTOBER 2018 • 11