HEALTH / NURSE

Student Health Emergency Information:   

A Student Health Emergency Information Sheet with current and accurate telephone numbers must be on file in the Health Office for each student in your family.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to provide to the school accurate and up to date medical and health information on each student.  Please provide names and phone numbers of adults who will assume responsibility and are available to provide transportation for your child if a parent cannot be reached. 

Physical Exams: 

 All students are required to have a physical exam on file in the health office prior to the first day of school.  The examination shall be conducted within one year prior to the date of entering kindergarten, and again within one year prior to the date of entering fifth grade.  Parents complete and sign the Health History section of the form.  Your child’s examining physician, APN, or PA must sign the Immunization History Section and the Physical Exam section, including height, weight, BMI, BP, Diabetes Screening, Physical Education and Sports participation, and the lead screening section for incoming kindergartners.  The immunization section must include specific dates in order to determine that the vaccine was given after the minimum interval or age. 

Sports Physicals: 

Participation in interscholastic sports requires an annual physical exam to be on file in the Health Office prior to the first day of practice.  Students who have not turned in a sports physical form will not be able to participate.  Please note that it is a two-sided form. 

The 5^th grade physical is accepted as proof on an examination for sports if the appropriate box is checked that the child may participate in interscholastic sports.   

Send the sports physical to the Health Office.  DO NOT GIVE IT TO THE COACH. 

Dental Exams: 

Students in kindergarten, second, and sixth grades are required by the state of Illinois to have a dental exam on file in the Health Office by May 15^th of the school year.

Medication Administration Policy: 

Students having a medical condition (asthma, allergies, etc.) which require the use and/or carrying of medication during school hours and/or after school activities are required to have a Permission to Medicate form on file in the Health Office.  The ONLY exception will be the administration of Advil/Tylenol per your written consent on the Student Health & Emergency Information sheet. 

School policy requires an adult must deliver all medications to the Health or Main Office. 

For the safety of all the students, please do not send any medications (including cough drops) to school in your child’s pockets, lunchbox, or backpack.  Please be aware that the health care provider is not available during after school activities.  Any child needing medication after school hours will need written permission from his/her prescribing doctor to carry the medication, and to know how to use it. 

Any medications kept in the Health Office will need to be picked up by an adult on or before June 4, 2008.  No medications will be sent home via the backpack.  Any medications remaining after the June 4 dismissal will be discarded. 

Absences from School: 

Please report all absences by calling the absentee voice mail line: (630) 513-3311.  Please provide reason for absences and whether or not your child has a communicable or contagious illness.

When to keep your child home from school: 

One of the problems often confronting parents of school-age children occurs when a child complains of not feeling well on a school day.  The following information will provide guidelines to be followed until your doctor can be reached for his/her opinion. 

• Fever:  A fever is a warning that not all is right in the body.  No child with a fever should be sent to school.  A child should not return to school until he has been free of fever for 24 hours.
• Cold/Sore Throat/Cough:  The common cold presents the most frequent problem to parents.  A child with a heavy cold and hacking cough should remain at home, even though he has no fever.  If your child complains of a sore throat and has no other symptoms, he may go to school.  If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat of if fever is present, keep him home and call your doctor.
• Rash:  A rash may be the first sign of one of childhood’s many illnesses.  A rash, or spots, may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. Do not send a child with a rash to school until your doctor has stated in writing the student may safely return.
• Stomachache/Vomiting/Diarrhea:  Consult your doctor if your child has a stomachache which is persistent or severe enough to limit his/her activity.  If vomiting occurs, keep your child home until he/she can keep food down.  A child with diarrhea should be kept home until diarrhea is no longer present.  Call your physician if prompt improvement does not occur.
• Keep a child home from school when:
  • Your child has a fever of 100 degrees F or more within the past 24 hours.
  • Your child has had vomiting or diarrhea within the past 24 hours.
  • Your child has unexplained rash, sore, or pink eyes with a discharge.
  • Your child has a persistent, productive cough.
  • Your child has head lice or nits.

**Your child MUST be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school without use of any fever reducing medication. 

**If a bacterial infection has been diagnosed, your child MUST have 24 hours of antibiotics before returning to school. 

**If the student has not stayed home the prescribed length of time, the parents will be contacted and asked to come to school to take the child home again.

Visits to the Health Office:

Students who report to the Health Office before the start of school will be sent to their homeroom, unless there is a medical condition requiring treatment or a medical emergency present.  Students are to have a pass to visit the nurse.  It is the nurse’s discretion to accept a student without a pass in emergency situations. 

Illnesses at School: 

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to arrange pick up for an ill child at the discretion of the health care provider.   Please come into the Main Office to sign the child out before proceeding to the Health Office. Students will be evaluated and sent home for:

·        A fever of 100 degrees F or higher

·        Vomiting/diarrhea

·        Unexplained rash or sore

·        Inflammation or discharge in one or both eyes

·        Persistent, productive cough

·        The student’s level of general discomfort significantly interferes with learning and productivity

·        The student has not stayed home the prescribed length of time for a contagious illness.

Injuries at School: 

In cases of a non-emergent accident to a student it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to notify a doctor or transport to the doctor’s office or hospital.  The health care provider does not diagnose or treat injuries other than basic first aid.  Injuries received outside of school are the responsibility of the parent.  The health care provider will not treat for injuries sustained from home.  Every attempt will be made to contact a parent when there is an injury that suggests a medical evaluation, or if there is an injury that should be observed at home.

Medical Emergencies:

A medical emergency is one in which illness or injury requires immediate intervention to affect a positive outcome.  First aid and necessary emergency procedures will be provided.  The health care provider, principal, or principal’s designee shall remain with the student and the parent will be called.  If a parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact person designated by the parent will be contacted.  If at any time school personnel are unsure of the gravity of the situation, or if the observable condition of the child would suggest the child not be moved, 911 will be called.  When it is deemed necessary to transport a child to the hospital, a member of St. Patrick Catholic School staff/faculty will remain with the child until a parent of other responsible adult arrives.

Returning to School:

• Extended absences of 5 or more days may require the student to present a doctor’s statement of re-admittance to the Health Office.
• Injuries or illness resulting in activity restriction of any kind require a doctor’s note of explanation of restriction and duration. 
• Any student returning to school with a cast, crutches, or any other debilitating illness or injury must report to the health care provider so that necessary adjustments and accommodations can be made.
• It is the responsibility of the parent to report any changes in a student’s health status which may impact or interfere with school day learning or activities.

Preventing the Transmission of Colds and Flu:  

• Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, preferably with a tissue or your arm, not your hands.  Dispose of tissues promptly and properly.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick.  Stay home from school until you recover.  Children with frequent or constant coughs will be sent home.
• Do not share things that go into your mouth, such as drinking cups, straws, etc.
• Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces if someone in your house has a cold or the flu.
• Children should be reminded to avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth while in public as these areas act as portals for bacteria and viruses to enter the body.

Please remind your child of these preventative measures frequently to ensure good hygiene and optimal health. 

School Policy on Birthday/Party Treats: 

Several of our students are severely allergic to peanuts, nuts and/or seeds.  Because even the fumes from these products can trigger a serious allergic reaction, we will not permit them in any birthday or party treats. 

Please do not send treats that contain any type of peanuts, peanut butter or oil, nuts, nut oils or seeds.  Please read labels carefully.  Also note that plain M&Ms are made in the same vats as Peanut M&Ms and are therefore also not permitted. 

Any birthday or party treats known to contain any of the above mentioned products will not be distributed due to safety concerns.  We appreciate your cooperation in making these celebrations special and safe for everyone.

Back Safety: 

Carrying a backpack improperly or one that has been over loaded can result in injury to the back or shoulders.  Some information to share with your student that may be helpful in preventing such an injury is included here:

·         Carrying no more that 15% of the student’s body weight.  This requires organization to carry only necessary items.  Try to keep older papers at home, make use of home books and CDs, and tear out workbook pages if possible.

·         Disbursing the weight properly throughout the backpack by putting heavier items in first to be worn next to the student’s body, making use of multiple pockets, and carrying heavier items (textbooks) in the arms to further disburse the load.

·         Lifting and wearing the pack properly.  Face the pack and bend at the knees, not the waist.  Keeping the pack close to the body, grasp the shoulder straps and lift the pack by straightening the knees to stand upright.  Slip one shoulder strap on, and then the other.  Always wear both shoulder straps.  Tighten the straps, and fasten the waist belt if there is one.  This will keep the pack close to the body to better support the load.

When shopping for a backpack look for:

• Proper fit for the size of the student
• Wide, padded shoulder straps
• Multiple pockets
• Waist strap
• Lumber support. This will disburse most of the weight onto the hips, pulling the shoulder straps back to promote upright posture. One to look at is the Airpack by Core Products (www.airpacks.com.It has an inflatable pillow at the lumbar region.

Please encourage your children to load, lift, and wear their backpacks properly to prevent backpack related injuries.

Dressing for the Cold Weather: 

Your child should have boots, mittens or gloves, hat, coat, and snow pants during the winter months.  The children will be outside for recess whenever possible.  Dressing in layers helps trap heat next to the body. 

Breakfast: 

Research has shown that children who come to school having eaten a healthy breakfast perform significantly better academically and socially than children who come to school without breakfast, or one that does not provide adequate nutrition.  Please provide your child with a well-balanced breakfast each day.

Head Lice: 

Head Lice infestation is not a disease, nor does it spread disease.  It is a public health nuisance, and we at St. Patrick Catholic School are committed to limiting its spread. Because nits can survive the lice-killing treatments, St. Pat’s has a No Nit policy.  Any child presenting to school with nits will be sent home for removal of the nits.  

Head lice infest people regardless of age, gender or social status.  They are not an indication of poor hygiene or parental neglect.  The primary symptom of infestation is itching. 

The louse is about 1/8 inch long and because it moves so fast, is difficult to detect.  The best way to confirm lice is to look for nits (eggs).  Nits are usually spotted along the hairline, at the back of the neck, or around the ears.  Nits look like tiny tan, white or gray-blue pieces of dandruff, but unlike dandruff, are difficult to remove from the hair shaft.  The newly hatched nymphs can look like specks of pepper on the scalp. 

When a report of head lice is received, school personnel make every effort to identify other students who might be infested.  The health care provider will notify the parent, and explain treatment, nit removal, environmental clean up and follow-up.  The privacy of the student will be maintained by the faculty/staff. 

Upon return to school, the health care provider will examine the student, and if nit free the child may return to school.  The involved student will be reexamined in 7-10 days.  If reinfestation is found, the parent will be notified and siblings and classmates will be checked, also.

Please Also Note:

• Examine your child weekly to catch an infestation as early as possible.
• Use bright light to examine your child’s head.
• Work in small areas (about 1 inch), parting the hair with a comb, to look for eggs attached to the hair near the scalp.
• If you observe your child scratching his/her head, that’s a sign of possible infestation- check for lice!
• Remind your child not to share combs, brushes, hair ties, clothing, hats, masks or costumes.
• Encourage girls with long hair to keep hair up off the shoulders with ponytails or braids.
• If your child does not have a locker, you may send in a large plastic bag to store his/her coat and hat in during the school day.

Should you find head lice on your child, please report this to the Health Office and begin treatments.  If necessary, your physician may be consulted to confirm the diagnosis and prescribe treatment.  A pharmacist can assist you in obtaining the proper shampoo to treat your child if you are unable to reach your physician.  (Sometimes head lice become resistant to over-the-counter treatments and need a stronger solution, which requires a prescription.)

More information regarding specific health issues that may affect school-age children can be found at the Kane County Health Department’s website, www.kanehealth.com, The Center for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov, and The American Academy of Pediatrics, www.aap.org.