Most Common Questions
Many parents have concerns regarding health issues in the school. The following answers to frequently asked questions come as a result of our experiences working with children and their families. If your question is not addressed here please contact the school nurse in your child's school.
Should I keep my child home from school because of an illness?
Because students are in close contact with one another during the school day, diseases spread easily through the school. We try to prevent this as much as possible through education and encouragement of frequent hand washing, proper diet and rest. However, children do get sick.
We ask you to keep your child at home for the following reasons:
-has a temperature of 100 degrees or more. Temperatures should be normal for 24 hours before she/he returns to school.
-has been diagnosed with a strep infection. Your child should be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school.
-has been vomiting during the night or before school
-has persistent diarrhea during the night or before school.
-has red swollen eyes that itch and are draining pus or have a crusty appearance upon awakening.
-has a productive cough that cannot be controlled with medication
If your child has been diagnosed with a communicable illness, please contact the school nurse to discuss when your child should return to school. Examples include, but are not limited to chicken pox, impetigo, scabies, lice, and ringworm.
What happens if my child gets sick at school?
Students who become ill at school are sent to the nurse's office where their illness is assessed by appropriate personnel. A child may be allowed to rest until feeling better. If the child has a fever of 100 degrees or higher, vomits, or has diarrhea, the health room staff will contact the parent or guardian who has legal custody to come to school to take the child home. If the parent is not available the staff will contact the alternates that are listed on the emergency card. Students can be released to someone other than parent only if that person has been designated on the emergency card by the parent.
I have a concern regarding my child's hearing or vision?
An immediate concern should be directed to your family doctor.
Vision screening will be done with all students during the year.
Hearing screening is done with students in grades K-3, 7 and 11. Also students who failed the screening the previous year, are new to the district or whose teacher indicates a concern will be screened.
All students who fail either screening will bring home a form letter with a copy of the screening results and a referral to the appropriate medical provider.
Help, I need to know more about head lice!
At different times in the year, head lice are found among our student population. Lice are parasites that have been around as long as people can remember. The presence of head lice, by itself, is not an indication of your uncleanliness. They can be passed from one person to another under certain conditions. Because lice must be killed on the head and in the home environment, they can be difficult to eradicate. Head lice is a concern of both the school and the community, so we would like to inform you as parents what you can do to help control lice.
Tell your children to never borrow a friend's comb, brush, hat or towel.
Once a month check the heads of all your family members for nits and lice.
Lice are grayish-white or light brown flat insects that crawl on or near the scalp. They are one-eighth to one-fourth inch in length.
The eggs or nits are teardrop-shaped and are firmly attached to the hair, usually within on-half inch of the scalp and most commonly behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. They do not flick off, and therefore, can be distinguished from dandruff.
Head lice must be treated with a special head lice shampoo that can be purchased over-the-counter at a local pharmacy. All nits must be removed to prevent them from hatching and re-infesting the the hair. Clothing, coats, hats, brushes, and bed linens need to be disinfected by washing with soap and hot water. Pillows, stuffed animals and other items that are difficult to wash should be placed in a plastic bag for at least three weeks.
Please notify the school if you find lice or nits, and we will be able to advise you. You may also wish to notify your doctor.
REMEMBER- Anyone can get lice. Having lice is not a disgrace, but informing the school that lice have been found is an important step in helping to control the problem. Of course this information , as with all health information, is kept confidential.
If you have any further questions, please call the school nurse for accurate information. We need to work together to continue to combat this age-old problem.
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FAQ about the Health Room |