Health Information 

Health Policies and Procedures 


At the beginning of the school year, parents are asked to provide emergency information that will be kept on file in the office.  The information you provide the school is very important and is kept confidential.  It should be kept up to date (see Change of Address/Telephone), especially telephone numbers where a parent/responsible adult can be reached should a child need to leave school because of an emergency.  We ask that you provide several emergency numbers.

Children entering the Errol Consolidated School for the first time (i.e. preschoolers, kindergartners and/or transfer students) must have the following information available upon registering:

1. Child's Immunization Record

2. Birth Certificate

3. Social Security Number

4. Report of Child's Current Physical


The law requires that all children have physical examinations.  This requirement includes students who will be enrolled in preschool and/or kindergarten in the fall, those who will be enrolled in fourth grade, and all transfer students.  RSA 200:32. A physical examination by a chiropractor is not acceptable.

For transfer students, verification that a physical has been done within the previous year must be presented to the school at the time of transfer.  If a student has not received a physical within the previous year, a date for an appointment must be presented at the time of entry.  All transfer students will have sixty (60) days to provide results of a physical to the school.  RSA 200:32. 

For preschool, kindergarten and fourth grade students, examinations must be completed prior to school entry in the fall.

Errol Consolidated School has an Authorization to Release Physical and Immunization Records Form that can be filled out so that we can get information directly from your Primary Care Physician.  


Blood Sugar Monitoring

All monitoring of student blood sugars will be done in the nurse's office under the supervision of the school nurse.  A log will be kept of the results.


Illnesses

Children should not be sent to school if they have symptoms of an illness.  Children will recover sooner if they are kept at home resting.  We recommend your child stay home if she/he was ill during the night, or is complaining of a sore throat, earache, etc.  Children with a fever of 100 degrees or greater within the last 24 hours must stay home even if a dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) temporarily lowers the temperature, the student usually feels ill later in the day and the infection is spread to other students.

Parents of a student with a fever of 100 degrees or greater will be asked to come to pick up their child.  Parents of a student who has vomited will be notified and, at the discretion of the nurse, may be asked to come to pick up their child.

If your child has had a major illness or any type of fracture over the summer, or received immunizations over the summer, please notify the school nurse so the information may be added to your child’s health record.


Prescription Medication Policy

Should your child need to take any prescription medication, you must:

All medications are to be given to the school nurse upon entry. NO student is to keep

medication on him/her or in his or her backpack or desk except students who have an

inhaler for asthma.  Students are allowed to carry their inhaler with them provided that their health care provider has indicated they may do so and they have demonstrated that they have the skill necessary to self-medicate.  The school  must have parent and health care provider permission on file.  Students are encouraged to inform the school nurse when they have used their inhaler.  All inhalers must be properly labeled by a pharmacist.

No prescription drug will be used if the name on the bottle is different from the student’s name ( i.e. using a sibling’s medication).  Eye drops will only be given by the school nurse.  If she is not here they will not be given.  Therefore, we discourage eye drops given at school.


Over the Counter Medication Policy

We would encourage you to bring in over-the-counter (OTC) medications only if your child is suffering from an acute illness or injury, or if your child has a chronic health condition.  We discourage OTC medication being kept at school for an indefinite length of time.  

If your child needs OTC medication, it must be in its original container with your child’s name written on it.  We also need a note or our OTC form completed with dose and times to be given, with parent signed permission. The school can request a written health care provider’s order for the non-prescription medication. After the acute illness or injury, we request that you pick up the remaining medication.  

No student is to keep medication on him/her or in his/her backpack, locker or desk.  This includes cough drops. 

Parents should contact the school if they plan to come in and give medicine to their child during school hours. 

ECS has an Over the Counter permission form that can be filled out for each school year.  This form lets you decide what medications the school can administer to your child as needed.

Field Trips: When students engaged in field trips require medications, an adult is designated to assist students in taking required medications.  The adult must safeguard the medication in ORIGINAL bottles during trips and observe students as they take the medication. Information is documented and attached to students' medical records.  Parents should send a second "original" pharmacy bottle with a smaller dose of medication so the amount of medication actually taken on the trip is minimized.

Teachers, nurses, or support personnel may not give any medication in a New Hampshire school without the above guidelines being met.  No exceptions will be made.



Immunizations

N. H. State Law (RSA1 41 -C:20) requires that all children residing in this state be immunized against certain diseases and that they not be admitted/enrolled in any school unless these requirements are met. Specific guidelines are required for any child to be exempt from immunization.  Chicken pox vaccine (varicella) is now required for students in Preschool, Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, 3, & 6 if your child has not had the chickenpox disease. Any questions regarding immunizations should be directed to the school nurse. 



Contagious Diseases

All contagious diseases must be reported to the school. 


Chicken Pox: Is a very contagious disease which usually begins with fever and itchy rash.  The rash is small red bumps (vesicles) which become blistered, oozy and then crust over.  Students are excluded from school until one week after rash  appears or until all vesicles (pox) have dried up.  It is communicable from 5 days before until 6 days after onset.  Students must bring in a note from the examining medical personnel indicating that a return to school is approved.


Conjunctivitis: (pink eye): Is highly contagious. The eye appears reddened and there may be tearing and discharge from the eyes.  Eyes are usually itchy.  The discharge may make the eyelids stick together when a child wakes up in the morning.  Child must be excluded from school for full 24 hours after treatment begins.  Your child’s healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotic eye drops.  Pay strict attention to handwashing and immediate disposal of tissues or other articles soiled with eye discharge.


Fifth Disease: Most children with this will develop a facial rash (ie “slapped cheek” appearance) and a lace-like rash on their trunk, arms and legs.  There is no specific treatment for Fifth Disease.  Children with the disease may attend school as they are not contagious after onset of rash.  Please note if a pregnant woman is exposed to Fifth Disease she should contact her obstetric care provider.


Impetigo: Is a common contagious skin infection, appearing with honey colored blisters or crust.  The area may also be itchy.  Commonly found around the mouth, nose and fingers but may appear anywhere on the body.  Students are excluded from school for a full 24 hours after treatment has begun.  Treatment usually consists of a combination of antibacterial soap, antibiotic ointment and at times oral antibiotics.  The affected skin area should be covered with gauze or band-aid until healed.


Pediculosis (Head Lice):  The school will periodically provide information to families of all children on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of head lice.  Parents are encouraged to check their children’s heads for lice if the child is symptomatic.  The school may check a student’s head if the student is demonstrating symptoms.  The school will supervise checks of students for head lice as needed.  Parents/guardians of any student found to have head lice will be notified by the school.  Students who have been infected with head lice must be checked by the school nurse prior to returning to school. If you discover your child has head lice over a weekend or vacation and you have treated them, the school still must be notified so the class, etc. can be checked. General notification to parents will be made if 3 or more students in the same class are found to have head lice.  Please refer to ESD Policy JLCC.


Ringworm: while under treatment, minimize contact by excluding from gym, swimming pools, and activities likely to lead to exposure to others.


Scabies: Is a common communicable skin infection caused by a microscopic parasite called a mite.  The infestation is in the form of an intensely itchy rash, which consists of red bumps and burrows.  Areas most commonly involved are the fingers, wrist, elbows, underarms, belt lines, thighs, navel, genital areas and feet.  Child needs to be excluded from school for 24 hours after child and their families have had treatment completed.


Scarlet Fever and Strep Throat: 

Strep Throat:  Sore throat that is very red and tends to be accompanied by fever, tender swollen neck glands, headache and stomachache, but can also occur with cough, runny nose or other cold symptoms.

Scarlet Fever:  A form of strep infection which causes a rash.  Rash is usually red with fine bumps that feel sandpapery and is most noticeable on the neck, chest, groin and inner surface of the knees, thighs and elbows.  The rash may only last a few hours.

Rheumatic Fever is very rare in the U.S. but can develop 5-6 week after an untreated strep infection.

Children and staff who have a strep infection are excluded from school for 24 hours after treatment begins.  If your child has a fever with the strep throat they are to be excluded from school for 48 hours after treatment begins.


The school will follow Center for Disease Control guidelines for reporting contagious diseases.


Infectious Conditions

Children who have infectious conditions must be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school.  If the health care provider orders an antibiotic to be given three times daily, we recommend the medications be given as follows:

1 dose prior to school

1 dose after school

1 dose before bedtime