Accidents or Illness --Students with a temperature of 100 degrees or above must not be sent to school. Students who come to the clinic during the school day with a temperature of 100 degrees or above will be sent home. Students should be fever free for twenty-four (24) hours without the aid of an antipyretic (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.) prior to returning to school. Parents are advised to keep students at home for twenty-four (24)
hours if the student has had diarrhea and/or has been vomiting.
It is required for each student’s protection that the parent completes the emergency card. The pink card registration will be used in the event a student is injured at school, or becomes acutely ill. The card may need to be presented to a doctor or hospital for medical treatment. The parent must provide the necessary information to keep the emergency card current, including an accurate, working phone number. Throughout the school year, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to inform the school nurse of any changes, including food allergies, in the student’s health or medical status.
Physical Education Excuses --Students may be excused from physical education, for health or medical reasons, for a maximum of three calendar days with a note from a parent. Excuses for more than three days require a note from a professional healthcare provider. In cases of non-participation in the program or participation on a limited basis, a statement from a professional healthcare provider for the current year, must be on file, giving the reason for and length of time of the restriction. A Medical Excuse from Physical Education form (E 3-2) is available from the nurse/physical education teacher and must be completed by the doctor.
Medicine, Crutches, Medical Procedures, Medical Appliances at School
In most cases, the medication time can be adjusted so that the prescription medicine does not need to be taken during school hours. Unless an exact time is specified by the doctor, prescription medicines labeled to be taken two to three times a day are to be given outside of school hours (before school, after school, at bedtime). In the rare instances when it is necessary to take prescription medication during school hours, the school is required to have a written request to administer the prescription medication from the parent, legal guardian or other person having legal control of the student before prescription medication may be given at school. In order to ensure the student‘s safety, it may be necessary for the school nurse to contact the student‘s physician regarding the prescription medication. Prescription medication must be:
• prescribed by a United States physician • current • properly labeled by the pharmacy
• issued by a United States pharmacy • in the original container
Because even the simplest and safest of medications can mask symptoms of illness and/or create undesirable reactions, non-prescription, over-the-counter medication may not be brought to or used at school. Cough drops are considered an over-the-counter medication and are not permitted.
Prescription medications containing codeine or other narcotics are not to be brought to or administered at school.
All prescription medication to be administered shall be delivered to the clinic by the parent or a responsible adult. Students shall not carry medication on the school bus and shall not deliver medication to the clinic. It is the responsibility of the parent to see that the prescription medication is picked up from school by a responsible adult at the end of the day or the week, as appropriate.
If a student should violate District policy by personally carrying medication to school, the nurse will take the medication from the student. The nurse will call the parent to provide notice that the prescription medication will not be administered to the student without a signed parent request on file. The nurse will notify the parent to pick up the medication from the clinic and/or come to the clinic to sign the written request for the nurse to administer the prescription medication. If unable to reach the parent by telephone, written notice will be mailed to the parent. Unauthorized medication will be held in the clinic for no longer than 30 calendar days, and after that time it will be discarded.
A note from a physician or campus athletic trainer will be required in order to use crutches or any other medical appliance on campus. This is not applicable to a student with a permanent disability. A student with a medical condition or long term disability which requires the student to be excused from physical education must submit an annual update signed by a physician. To keep all medical records current, any medically fragile student must submit an annual progress notation signed by a physician. The school nurse may exercise professional discretion to accommodate special needs as they arise.
Any student requiring special treatments such as tube feeding, catheterization, etc. must have the necessary authorization forms renewed annually and on file with the school nurse prior to the first day of treatment.
Communicable Diseases--To avoid endangering the health of other students, a student with a communicable or contagious disease will be required to remain home until the disease is no longer contagious. Diseases requiring exclusion from school include, but may not be limited to the following: chickenpox, measles, untreated ringworm of the scalp, untreated impetigo, hepatitis A, bacterial meningitis, mumps, untreated scabies, salmonellosis, shigellosis, untreated strep throat (including scarlet fever), tuberculosis and whooping cough. Students may return to school when recovered and/or released by a licensed U.S. physician.
Pediculosis (Head Lice) --Based upon specialized training and the professional judgment of the school nurse, students with live lice or signs of active infestation will be excluded from school. Students who have been sent home should receive prompt treatment for lice and are expected to return to school the following day, free of live organisms. Parents should check their child weekly for head lice. If head lice are found, the hair must be treated before the child returns to school on the following day. Upon return to school, the student and parent/guardian must report directly to the school nurse, provide information about the treatment utilized and have the student’s hair checked before reporting to class.
As always, if you have any concerns or questions, please call or email me.
I look forward to serving your children’s health needs. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me.
Sandi Asbeck RN