Health Policies
First Aid/School Nurse

• We have the services of a registered nurse. In her absence, the office staff will oversee the health office.
• First aid is administered as necessary.
• In the event of a serious injury, the parents are contacted immediately. If the situation warrants, paramedics will be called; the ambulance cost will be the parent's responsibility.
• Emergency information must be up-to-date.

• The school nurse or designated office personnel administer medication. Students may not carry medication at any time. (Ask the nurse if you would like your child to carry their inhaler for asthma)
• Students who require medication at school must have two letters on file in our office. Please see the nurse for these forms.
• We cannot administer aspirin, cough medicine, or other medicines. All medication must be brought to school by the parent. Children may not bring medicine to school. Please see the nurse to make arrangements to drop off medication.

HEALTH OFFICE

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PROVIDE FIRST AID - to the ill or injured student or staff member. First aid is defined by the American Red Cross as "The immediate care given to a person who has been injured or has been suddenly taken ill." Many students require first aid for the treatment of minor cuts or abrasions. Liberally clean the affected area with soap and water, apply Neosporin ointment and a bandage. Minor bumps or bruises can be treated with an ice pack to the affected area. An injury resulting in a 'goose-egg' type bump also requires parent/guardian notification. All head injuries (even minor bumps) are reported to the parent and a Head and Neck Injury Letter is sent home with the child. A head injury that results in a 'goose-egg' on the head requires observation by the school nurse until the parent comes to pick the child up for further observation and medical care. Document all findings in the Daily Log Book. There is a first aid response guidebook for school personnel, entitled "First Aid Procedures for Injuries and Illnesses" published by the Illinois Department of Human Services and the Illinois State Board of Education, available for quick reference in the nurse's bookcase.

ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS - Verify doctor's orders for all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) that are to be dispensed at school. Permission to medicate form must be completed by the physician and must include the parent's authorization. Record on the student's medication sheet doses given. Date and sign the medication sheet.

SENDING A STUDENT HOME SICK - If a student needs to be sent home due to illness, notify the parent or guardian (home, work, cell). The parent or guardian must make arrangements to pick up the student. If we are unable to reach the parent/guardian use the Student Emergency Information Form to contact the designated emergency contact person. Leave messages for the parent (home, work, cell) of this action and periodically attempt to reach the parent. A student will be sent home if he/she has a fever of 100 F or higher; or has vomited or has diarrhea.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL FROM AN ILLNESS - Students must be symptom free or on an antibiotic for contagious illnesses for 24 hours before returning to school.

EMERGENCY TRANSPORT TO NEAREST HOSPITAL - In the event that an injury or illness necessitates immediate transport to a hospital, the Principal (or in Principal’s absence, the Vice Principal), will be notified immediately. Paramedics will transport the student to the nearest hospital (or the hospital designated on the Student Health History Sheet). Either the Principal or the School Nurse will accompany the student. Parents will be notified immediately to meet their child at the hospital.

ADMINISTRATION OF PRN MEDICATIONS - The administration of Tylenol or Advil (or their generic equivalent) requires written or verbal consent from the parent or guardian. Assess the student. A student with an elevated temperature (100 or higher) is sent home sick (we do not treat simple temperatures). Always check the Student Medication Sheet for the parent's directives regarding Tylenol or Advil. Many parents/guardians request that we notify the parent first. Often we have a complaint of a simple headache or menstrual cramps. If we have written or verbal parent permission then administer the Tylenol or Advil (according to age and weight). Notify the parent (by phone or note) of the time that the medication was given and the complaint. Sometimes the child may have taken a dose of Tylenol or Advil before school. Consider this possibility for medication given before noon. Younger children may not remember what they took and what time it was given at home. Therefore, we call the parent/guardian of younger students first (grades l-4). Always question the student to see if they took any medicine in the morning. Any doubt, call the parent. Use the scale for accurate weights of the students. Document the medication given on the Student's Medication Sheet.

READ THE COMMTINICATION LOG DAILY - The Communication Log allows the nurses to communicate to each other and it is confidential. It allows us to exchange important information. Any questions, observations, schedule requests, parent/teacher requests, etc. can be jotted down here. Remember to keep the Communication Log private and not left open on the desktop. It is kept in the Log Book in the bookcase.

DAILY LOG BOOK - The Daily Log is used to enter all student (staff) visits to the Health Office. Be sure to document completely as these entries may be reviewed later for various purposes. Take a few minutes at the start of your day to review past entries in the Daily Log.

CONFIDENTIALITY - Absolutely everything concerning the student (health and otherwise) is confidential. Any breech of this confidentiality is considered a serious indiscretion. We must protect the integrity of the Health Office and the privacy of each student. An example: a parent may ask you the name of a student who has strep throat or head lice. Simply reply which classroom the student is in, do not reveal the student's name.

INCIDENT/ACCIDENT REPORTS - An Incident/Accident Report is filled out in the event of a more serious injury that occurred on school property. If the injury necessitated a visit to the E.R. or physician (i.e.; fracture, stitches) we should complete the form. One copy is given to the Principal and one copy remains in the Daily Log Book and is filed at the end of the school year in the file cabinet. This document does NOT go in the student's file.

MAINTAIN CLEANLINESS OF HEALTH OFFICE - Help keep the Health Office clean by wiping down the desktop, telephone, cot, and other surfaces with a disinfectant wipe or spray. Help keep the First Aid cart and (field trip) fanny packs supplied. Make a note (in the Communication Log) of low supplies so they can be purchased. Purchase supplies and submit the receipt to the Home and School Association.

FIELD TRIPS - Prepare the classrooms' first aid packs for the next day's field trip (each teacher should have one). Check the Field Trip Medication List for that grade (front of the daily log book) and send all medications as necessary. Prepare small envelopes (kept in the file cabinet) for each student: write the student's name, teacher/grade, name of medication and dosage, and time to be given. Initial and date the envelope. Place medication (i.e., Ritalin) in the envelope and seal it. Send inhalers and epi-pens along for students who keep them at school. The teacher will carry the medication and supervise the student self-administration. Self-administration means the student will be responsible for opening the envelope and recognizing his/her medication prior to taking it in front of the teacher. Deliver the first aid packs at the end of the school day to the School Office. The teacher will pick up the first aid pack prior to the departure on the day of the field trip. Watch for the return of the first aid packs. Remove any remaining medications (forgotten?) and inhalers/epi-pens, and replenish the first aid supplies as needed. Track down the first aid packs if necessary.

MEDICATIONS - Medications are kept in the closet and locked. Inhalers, asthma supplies (peak flow meters and spacers), and Epi-pens are also kept in the closet and are locked.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES - Check the absentee list daily. Look for any new cases of any communicable diseases (i.e., Strep, Scarlet Fever (which is Strep), Chicken Pox, Pink eye, etc.). Send out Parent notification letters to the classroom (original copy is in the bookcase). Make one copy and on that sheet fill out the date and the classroom at the top of the letter. Make enough copies of this completed sheet for the affected classroom and possibly the entire grade, and place these in the teacher's folder for distribution at the end of the day. Document in the communication log the illness, date, grade and teacher. This lets the nurse working the next day know that parental notification letters were sent out. If a recurrence of the illness occurs, in a class that the parent notification letters were sent out and it's within the incubation period, do not re-send the letters.

HEAD LICE - Parents often notify us that head lice have been found. The student may return to school after receiving treatment at home, but must be first checked by the School Nurse for any lice or nits. St. Peter's has a 'no-nit' policy. If nits are present the student is not allowed to return to the classroom and must be sent home. All students in the affected child's classroom are observed for head lice. We have found it to be less distracting to go into the classroom to check heads. Bring a flashlight, q-tip or pencil, and several gloves. Begin with a brief lesson on head lice and the prevention of getting head lice (age-appropriate). Check students systematically (row by row) so no students are overlooked. Have the School Secretary send any siblings of the affected students to the health office so they may be discreetly checked. Send Parent notification letters to the affected classroom. Document in the communication log the classroom affected by lice and the date. The affected student is checked in 1 week for recurrence.

ASTHMA EPISODE - Students may come to the health office with complaints of asthma symptoms. These symptoms may include shortness of breath, cough, wheeze, or tightness in the chest. Keep the child sitting upright and administer the inhaler as prescribed. Document the use of the inhaler in the Medication book. Notify the parent that an asthma episode occurred and was treated with the inhaler with relief of the symptoms. Students may return to class with a note or phone call to inform the teacher of actions taken in the health office. If it appears that the child's asthma is not improving the parent should pick the child up to take him or her the doctor. If it appears that the asthmatic episode is worsening, and you cannot reach the parent, paramedics should be called.

INHALERS - Illinois School Code requires that all schools permit students to carry and self-administer prescribed asthma medication. In order for a student to carry medication at school, written permission from the parent and physician must be on file in the health office. The permission for self-administration of medication is effective for the school year and needs to be renewed each subsequent school year. If a student will be carrying and self-administering prescribed asthma medication and parents have not turned in the required forms, the school nurse should be contacted. St. Peter's School and its employees are to incur no liability, except for willful and wanton misconduct, as a result of any injury arising from the self-administration of medication by the student.

PROCEDURE FOR ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIPTION <
AND
NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION

Medication:

Parents and guardians have primary responsibility for administering medication to their children. Only those medications absolutely required for the critical health and well-being of the student will be administered during school hours or during school-related activities. In order to ensure the safe and proper administration of medication to students, the following procedures have been established. The intent of these procedures is to protect the student; to provide a clear and consistent approach to the administration of medication and to ensure that physician, parents, school, and student understand their responsibilities.

Procedure:

l. The parent/guardian will complete the School Medication Authorization Form before the administration of any non-prescription medication at school. Prescription medication will be given for one day only with verbal or written parent/guardian consent. The School Medication Authorization Form must be completed by the parent/guardian and physician to continue administration beyond the initial day.
2. All prescribed medications will be provided to the school nurse in an original container or vial, as provided by the pharmacist, with specific instructions for administration and is to be of correct date. The orders on the prescription container must exactly coincide with the order as written by the physician. The pharmacist will supply you with two properly labeled containers, one for home and one for school. Non-prescription (over the counter) medications must be provided in the original container labeled with the student's name. Professional judgment will prevail when administering ANY medications at school.
3. The School Medication Authorization Form must be completed annually or whenever there is a change in medication and/or dosage.
4. The parent/guardian or an adult designee is responsible for bringing medication to school. At the termination of the medication, the parent/guardian or an adult designee, must pick the medication up from school or authorize disposal by the school nurse.
5. Medication will be administered under the direction of the school nurse. Questions relating to medication should be directed to your physician.
6. A written record is to be kept on each student receiving medication. The time each dose is given is to be recorded and signed. Any side effects shall be recorded.
7. The student is to take the medication in the presence of the person administering the medication.
8. The parent/guardians of any student requiring long-term medication should have a conference with the school nurse at the beginning of each school year and when there is a change of medication.