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Health Services

The Health Services section of the student handbook is a basic overview and not intended to address all questions and concerns parents and/or students may have. Please refer to the Athens City Schools web site or school nurse for detailed plans for all health questions.
 

ALLERGY GUIDELINES

If a student has a SEVERE allergy, the student is required to have a signed health care provider statement indicating their allergy or intolerance and the type of reaction.
 

HEAD LICE

Pediculosis, more commonly known as head lice, is routinely found in elementary and middle school aged children. Head lice can affect children across all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. The following interventions are important to help control the spread of head lice in our school community:
  • Students who are identified as having live lice: The school nurse will make all attempts to notify parents to pick their child up from school to treat and return to school following treatment, with either an over the counter or prescription lice killing product. The school nurse will recheck the student before being allowed to return to the classroom. They will not be permitted to re-enter the classroom until lice free. 
  • Students that have been cleared of lice will be re-examined in 14 calendar days by the school nurse. Students found to have head lice will once again be excluded from the classroom until lice free. 
  • Please examine your child’s head regularly, especially behind his/her ears and at the nape of his/her neck for crawling lice and/or nits (eggs).
  • Crawling lice and/or nits found within ¼ inch from the scalp are signs of a positive head lice infestation, which requires treatment with an over-the-counter or prescription lice-killing product. Students with active lice are not allowed to attend school and will be sent home. All infested family members must be treated, being careful to follow the product’s direction carefully and completely.
  • Please contact your child’s school nurse if you have had to treat your child for head lice. She is available to serve as a resource to you and will need to check your child’s head to ensure there are no remaining live lice prior to your child returning to his/her classroom.
  • Head lice are a nuisance, but do NOT carry or transmit disease or infection. Mass screenings are no longer recommended and not found to be effective in the control of head lice.
  • “No-nit” policies are no longer recommended. Therefore, students who have been treated and have no evidence of live lice when checked by the school nurse are able to return to their classroom. Students with nits and no evidence of live head lice will not be excluded from school. 

HEALTH SCREENING

Students in grades K-12 are screened for vision and hearing as needs arise. Students in grades 5–9 (i.e., age 11-14 years) are screened annually for scoliosis (curvature of the spine) with signed parent permission only.
 

ILLNESS GUIDELINES

 
FEVER A student with a fever of 100.0 or greater should not come to school. A student at school with a fever of 100.0 or greater will be isolated from the classroom. If no one can be reached to pick up the student, 911 may be called to transport the student for medical treatment. This will depend on the assessment by the school nurse based on the clinical symptoms of the student. A student MUST be fever free for at least 24 hours WITHOUT the use of fever reducing medications (Tylenol, Motrin, etc.) before returning to school.

HEADACHE Many things such as fever, stress, sinuses, viral illnesses, and dehydration can cause headaches. When a student has a headache during school hours and the headache does not go away after 20-30 minutes, the student may be sent home. 
 

STREP THROAT student may return to school with evidence of physician diagnosis and a minimum of 24 hours of antibiotic treatment

VOMITING Students should not return to school until they have NOT been vomiting for 24 hours. Note: Nurses will use their judgment when requesting students to be sent home from school for vomiting. Example: If a student gets too hot in P.E., they probably do not need to be sent home and do not need to stay out of school the next day.

DIARRHEA Certain forms of diarrhea can be contagious. Your child should stay home if he/she has had diarrhea (two times or more) prior to the start of the school day. Children with diarrhea at school will be sent home and should not return to school until no diarrhea for 24 hours.

ABDOMINAL PAIN Any form of abdominal pain in a child should be taken seriously. Many things cause abdominal pain. A student who complains of abdominal pain should not come to school until the problem has been identified. Any student with abdominal pain that lasts longer than 15-30 minutes may be sent home and should be seen by a health care provider.

COUGH A cough that is chronic can spread germs and be disruptive in a classroom. Please take this into consideration when deciding to send a student to school. The school nurse may evaluate a student with a cough and if determined to be excessive may be sent home. If a student brings cough drops or cough medicine to school, the student must have a Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form (PPA) completed and signed by a parent or guardian. If this medicine is required longer than 2 weeks, a PPA must be signed by a physician or practitioner for the medicine to remain on campus.

PINK EYE (CONJUNCTIVITIS) Pink eye can be very contagious. If the white of your child’s eye is red and has a thick yellow or greenish-colored drainage, you should keep your child at home until treated. Students may return to school after a minimum of 24 hours of treatment.

IMPETIGO  Students may be returned to school with evidence of physician diagnosis and a minimum of 24 hours of antibiotic treatment. Lesions must be covered when the student returns to school.

RINGWORM Students must be treated with proper medication for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school and lesions must be covered when the student returns to school.

HAND, FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE Students may return to school with a physician's diagnosis and excuse and must be fever free for 24 hours before returning.

RASH There are all types of rashes. Some are nothing more than irritated skin, while others are very contagious. The guidelines include:

  • Either clothing or a bandage MUST cover all rashes.
  • A student with an undiagnosed rash lasting more than 2 days may be required to have a medical doctor's note in order to return to school.
  • A student with a scalp rash may be required to have a medical doctor's note in order to return to school.
  • A medical doctor should evaluate a student with a rash that is associated with a fever and/or cough.
  • A medical doctor should evaluate a student with spotted rashes on the stomach, back, arms or legs.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Alabama law requires all students to have a current Immunization Card (Blue Card). The original Blue Card is kept on file by the student's school and must be updated per state guidelines.
Children enrolled in daycare, Head Start, and public or private school in Alabama must have a valid Alabama Certificate of Immunization on file at the facility that they attend. The certificate may be obtained from the physician or clinic that administers the vaccine or may be completed by any county health department in the state if the parent presents a vaccine record from the provider. For students who are moving to Alabama, out-of-state vaccine records must be transferred to the Alabama Certificate of Immunization prior to day care, Head Start, or school entry. This may be accomplished by taking a vaccine record from the provider to care, Head Start, or school entry. This may be accomplished by taking a vaccine record from the provider to the local county health department, or, if the family has chosen a physician in Alabama, the physician may transpose the record. There can be no handwriting on an immunization card for any reason. These will not be accepted. 
 
The state of Alabama does not recognize philosophical, moral, or ethical exemption from vaccination. A physician may issue a medical exemption or an Alabama Certificate of Religious Exemption may be obtained from the local county health department.
 
Please contact your health care provider if you have any questions.
 

MEDICATION PROTOCOL

All medications require parents to complete the Alabama State Department of Education School Medication Prescriber/Parent Authorization (PPA) forms. New forms must be renewed at the beginning of every school year and anytime the doctor makes a change to prescribed medication. Only the prescriber (MD, NP, PA) can change a medication order (dose, frequency, specific time, etc.). Changes to the medication orders by a parent/guardian will not be accepted. Note: Only one medication per Prescriber/Parent Authorization (PPA) form is acceptable. If a student has multiple medications, a separate PPA must be completed and signed for each medication.
 
Prescription Medications
All medications must be hand delivered by the parent or guardian to the nurse. This includes all students who "Self-Administer" and/or "Self Carry" medications. The nurse must verify all orders before students are allowed to carry and self-administer their medications. The nurse or certified medication assistant will count all controlled substances in the presence of the parent or guardian. Students are not allowed to carry medication on them while at school without proper physician orders giving permission to carry medication. The student is not allowed to “self-carry” a controlled substance. This medication will be kept in the nurse's office. 
 
ALL prescription medications must:
  • Be brought in by a parent or guardian to the nurse and they must sign a proper medication form that indicates the medications were received, counted and secured by the school.
  • Be in the original container with a current pharmacy prescription label attached. Have the correct student's name on the prescription label and identical to the PPA. A valid date of expiration. Expired medications will not be accepted.
  • Not be mixed with any other medications (unless indicated on the label).
  • Have a completed Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form (PPA) signed by a doctor and parent/guardian per prescription.
  • "Use As Directed" is not acceptable per state guidelines.
Over-the-Counter Medications
Over the counter medications will be administered as follows:
  • Requires completion of the Prescriber/Parent Authorization form signed by the prescriber (MD, NP, PA). All OTC meds staying longer than 2 weeks in the nurse's office require the signature of a prescriber (MD, NP, PA) per Alabama guidelines. 
  • Must be provided by the parent in the original sealed container identifying the medication name, dosage, and manufacturer's labeling.
  • Distributed according to manufacturer's recommendations only.
  • If prescribed in excess of the manufacturer's recommended dosage, the parent/guardian will be
  • required to complete a new Prescriber/Parent Authorization form and have it signed by their physician.
  • No aspirin or aspirin containing medication (salicylate) will be given to children or teenagers under the age of 16 years of age, unless prescribed by a physician.
  • Food supplements, natural substances and herbs are not without potential harm, including life-threatening conditions. Herbal products and dietary supplements have not been subject to the scrutiny of the Food and Drug administration (FDA) and in the United States, as in most countries, dosage and purity have not been regulated for these products. School personnel should not give any substance that could be construed as a drug or medication, including natural remedies, herbs, and nutritional supplements, without the explicit order of an authorized prescriber, and reasonable information regarding therapeutic and untoward effects.
Narcotics will NOT be allowed to be given at school. 
CBD oil will NOT be allowed to be given at school.
ALL Non-Prescription medications must have:

  • A new container that is unopened and sealed.

  • No other medications mixed inside the container.

  • A valid date of expiration. Expired medications will not be accepted.

  • The student’s name clearly marked on the original container.

  • A completed Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form (PPA) on file.

  • The following are procedures for medications that students may need to possess on them for self-medication: Note: A parent must sign the "Self-Administration" area of the PPA and sign the "Parent Authorization" area of the PPA.

  • Cough drops are considered OTC meds and will require a PPA form.

  • Inhalers - The school nurse must have a copy of the prescription label and box in her office. If the box is unavailable, the pharmacy can provide the inhalers prescription label.

  • Epi-Pens (TwinJect, Epinephrine, Adrenalin) - All students with Epi-Pens, TwinJects, and

  • Other pre-filled single-use epinephrine auto injectors must have a copy of the original pharmacy prescription label attached to the cartridge holder or the original box.

  • Students may only carry medications indicated for a "chronic" health condition (asthma, diabetes, seizures, etc.). The doctor must indicate the "chronic" condition on the PPA and check the "kept on person" and/or "self-medication" box on the PPA.

  • The parent or guardian will be notified when their child's medication is completed or becomes out of date. Expired medications will not be given at school.

  • All student medications must be picked up by the last day of school, before summer break, or the

  • medications will be destroyed per federal regulations (in the presence of a witness, as indicated). No medications will be kept at school over the summer.

  • Some medications are not to be given during school hours. The school nurse reserves the right to

  • refuse to administer certain medications unless a doctor has specifically written that the medication be given during school hours.

  • When a student will be attending an alternative school, it is the parent's responsibility to

  •  transport his or her child's medicine to and from the student's home school and to and from the alternative school.

  • The first dose of any new medicine should not be given at school. Athens City Schools follows the

  • State of Alabama guidelines for the administration of medications to students. Only school nurses and certified medication assistants are legally allowed to administer medications to students in the State of Alabama.

MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE AND VACCINE

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 – 18 years old in the United States. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease are very common.

Meningococcal vaccine: Who should get the vaccine and when?

MCV4, or the meningococcal vaccine, is recommended for all children 11 – 12 years of age and for unvaccinated adolescents at high school entry (15 years of age). High school seniors should also consider obtaining the vaccine prior to entering college, especially if they are planning on living in a dormitory. Please consult your physician or local health department for more information. For more information concerning this or other vaccine recommendations visit www.adph.org/immunizations.


 


 

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