Q: What health service does the school nurse provide?

A: The school provides basic first aid and emergency medical care to all students. The school nurse identifies medical conditions that need to be to be seen by a physician but cannot diagnose and/or treat the condition. When a student comes to the nurse's office, the nurse will complete a form giving the reason for the visit and the services provided. This form will be sent home with the student to notify the parent/guardian of the student's visit to the nurse's office, and will be the only notification the parent will receive unless the nurse determines that a telephone call is needed.

Q: What are the guidelines to keep my child at home?

A: The guidelines for when a child should stay home are:

1. A child should stay home when the child's temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher. Do not give a child medication to lower his/her temperature and then send him/her to school. If at any time during the school day a child's temperature is 100.4 degrees or higher, the parent will be called to come pick him/her up to avoid exposing other children to the illness.

2. If a child is vomiting, they will not be allowed to attend school due to the fact that the vomiting may be a symptom of a communicable disease. He/she should stay home until it is determined that the vomiting is not a symptom of a disease that can be transmitted to others.

3. If a child has persistent diarrhea, they will not be allowed to attend school. Please monitor the child before sending him/her to school to make sure that the diarrhea is gone.

4. If a child has a rash, it may be contagious. Please check with your doctor before allowing him/her to attend school.

5. If the child has been involved in an accident, please inform us. The better informed we are, the better decisions we can make about the care needed while in school. If the accident involved a limb, like an arm or leg, and the child has difficulty using that limb, please seek medical attention before sending him/ her to school.

Q: What if my child needs medical procedures or treatments?

A: If a child has special needs and requires a medical procedure or treatment to be provided at school, the following will be needed:

1. a doctor's order specifically describing the procedure or treatment (renewed each school year);

2. written consent from the parents for the procedure or treatment;

3. a conference between the parents and school nurse to clarify details of the procedure or treatment.

Q: What if my child needs emergency medical treatment?

A: If a student needs medical emergency treatment at school or a school-related activity when the parent cannot be reached, the school will need to have written parental consent to obtain medical treatment and information about allergies, medications, etc. Therefore, parents are asked each year to complete an emergency care consent form that contains an emergency care consent statement. It is very important that emergency care information be current (home and emergency phone numbers, name of doctor, routine medications, etc.) Please contact the school nurse to update any information.

The District is not responsible for medical expenses associated with a student's injury. The District does make available, however, an optional, low-cost student accident insurance program to assist parents in meeting medical expenses. A parent who desires coverage for his or her child will be responsible for paying insurance premiums and for submitting claims through the office.