WELCOME TO THE HEALTH OFFICE OF PALMER ELEMENTARY!

 

I hope you find the information provided helpful.

 

Cathy Oates

Elementary School Health Office

coates@palmer-isd.org

972-449-3132/Fax 972-449-3472

 

 

IMMUNIZATION

 

All students must be immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical or religious reasons, the student should not be immunized. The immunizations required are: HIB for four years old and under, diphtheria/tetanus, polio, measles (rubella), mumps, rubella, Hepatitis B and varicella. Pre-K and Head Start students are now required to have Hepatitis A and Pneumococcal Conjugate. The school nurse can provide information on the required doses of these vaccines or you can go to the Texas Department of Health website provided at the bottom of this page. Proof of immunization may be personal records by a licensed physician or public health clinic with a signature or rubber stamp validation. If a student should not be immunized for medical reason, the student or parent must present a certificate, signed by the U.S. licensed physician that states that, in the doctor’s opinion, the immunization required would be harmful to the health and well-being of the student or any member of the student’s family or household. This certificate must be renewed yearly unless the physician specifies a life-long condition. If a student’s religious beliefs conflict with the requirement that the student be immunized, the student must present an affidavit from the church that states that the immunization conflicts with the beliefs and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination of which the student is an adherent member. This statement must be renewed yearly. This is the parent of guardian’s responsibility to get the form and have the proper signatures completed. The school does not have a copy of this certificate. You must get it from the state.

 

 

MEDICATON AND OTHER NURSING INFORMATION

 

Medication Policies:

  1. An adult/parent must bring and pick up the medication at the nurses office or front office. If prescription medication is needed at school, it should be clearly marked with student name, dose, and time medication if to be given. It should also be in the original containers. All medicines can be split into separate containers for the school and for your use at home just let the pharmacist know that you need one for school. Medicines can not be sent home with student. If a student comes to school with medicine, this medicine will not be given. It will be picked up from the student and you will have to come to the school and pick it up.
  2. A permission slip must be filled out by the parent/guardian for any medication to be given at school. This includes any types of ointments and cough drops.
  3. Over the counter medications will be kept no longer than 10 days unless there is a doctor’s note stating otherwise.
  4. If a student needs to have his/her inhaler with them at all times then a doctor’s note needs to be brought to school stating this.
  5. Medicine to be taken three times a day does not need to be sent to school. It can be given in the morning, after school, and at bedtime.

 

School employees shall have immunity from civil liability from damages or injuries resulting from administration of the medication if the above criteria are met. Medication will not be administered under any circumstances to a child with fever. A student must not have any type of medication or drugs in their possession at any time. If a student is caught in possession of medication or drugs, they will be subject to disciplinary action. All types of medication must be left in the nurse’s office.

 

STANDARD TREATMENTS

 

  1. Standard treatments for cuts, abrasions, and scrapes will be to clean with soap and water, antibiotic ointment and a band-aid.
  2. Standard treatment for mosquito bites, ant bites, various bug bites, itchy rashes and poison ivy-oak will be caladryl lotion.
  3. Standard treatment for impetigo is to clean crust off sores with peroxide and put antibiotic ointment on the sores. If a child has impetigo, they must be seen by a doctor and treated.
  4. Once treatment has begun the child may return to school. Student must have doctor’s authorization to return to school.
  5. Standard treatment for areas such as insect bites or cuts that look to be infected will be peroxide and antibiotic ointment.
  6. Standard treatment of head lice is as follows: Palmer ISD has a “NO NIT” policy. All lice/nits should be removed. Students on our campus will be checked for lice/nits at random. The student will not be allowed to return to class until completely nit free. The child will be inspected by the nurse upon returning to school.
  7. If cough drops are needed at school, then parent must send the cough drops to school in the original container labeled with the child’s name and a permission note from the parent/guardian MUST be sent to the school nurse.
  8.  Medicines that are sent to school without proper authorization will not be administered. All medicines must come to school in original containers. Please do not send any medicines in a plastic bag.

 

 

Other Information:

 

  1. If there are any nursing problems such as catherizations, tube feedings, breathing treatments, etc. that must be done at school, a doctor’s note to that effect is needed. No procedure will be done without a doctor’s note.
  2. The emergency contact information form sent out with students at the beginning of the year must be completed and returned in order to start school.   This information is extremely important and necessary. Please fill out the form on the front and back. There must be a phone number on this form where a parent or guardian can be reached in case of an emergency. Please be sure to call and update any changes in your emergency numbers throughout the year.
  3. If parents are contacted about a sick child, then it is their responsibility to pick up their child or find someone to do so. The school is not responsible for taking home sick/injured children.
  4. Immunizations must be received in the appropriate amount of time allotted by the state/nurse or the child can not attend school. This is state law.

 

 

BACTERIAL MENINGITIS

 

Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord. Viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria can cause meningitis. Someone with meningitis will become very ill. The illness may develop over one or two days, but it can also rapidly progress in a matter of hours. Not everyone with meningitis will have the same symptoms. Children (over 1 year old) and adults with meningitis may have:

 

    • Severe headache
    • High temperature
    • Vomiting
    • Sensitivity to bright lights
    • Neck stiffness, joint pains
    • Drowsiness or confusion

 

If diagnosed early and treated promptly, the majority of people make a complete recovery. In some cases it can be fatal or a person may be left with a permanent disability.

 

Bacterial meningitis can be prevented by not sharing food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes. Vaccines against pnemococcal meningitis are recommended both for children and adults. For additional information, contact your school nurse, family doctor, or the staff at your local or regional health department.

 

Senate Bill 31 requires every school district to provide information about Bacterial Meningitis to the students and their parents each school year. Bacterial meningitis is posted on the school website.

 

 

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT

 

Parents shall complete an emergency care form each year that includes a place for parental consent for school officials to request medical treatment for the student, as proved by law. Parents may also be asked to supply other information that could be required in case of an emergency.

 

 

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

 

Parents of students with a communicable or contagious disease are asked to telephone the school nurse/principal so that other students who have been exposed to the disease can be alerted; convalescing students are not allowed to come to school until the disease if no longer contagious. These diseases include: chicken pox, diphtheria, fever (100.4 or greater), gastroenteritis (viral), head lice (no nit policy), hepatitis (viral, type A), impetigo, influenza, measles (rubella), German measles (rubella), meningitis (bacterial), meningitis (viral), mumps, pinkeye (conjunctivitis), poliomyelitis (polio), ringworm of the scalp, salmonellosis, scabies, shigellosis, streptococcal sore throat and scarlet fever, tuberculosis (pulmonary), methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureua (MRSA), and whooping cough (pertussis).

 

Students should not be sent to school with a fever. The Texas Department of Health guidelines, in relation to communicable diseases, states that a student has fever if it is 100.4 degrees or greater. If a child has a fever at school, they will be sent home. No aspirin or aspirin products will be given at school under any circumstances due to the risk of Reyes Syndrome and asthma triggers. Students should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school unless they have been seen by a physician and/or have been started on an antibiotic. It would be advantageous for every household to have a thermometer so an accurate determination of the student’s temperature can be made. Please be sure the nurse has current phone numbers on file for your student.

 

What your student should do if they become ill at school – they should obtain a nurse pass from their teacher and report to the school nurse who can assist them in health matters. Students should be picked up as soon as possible. Students are sent to the front office immediately to go home. Students will not be placed on daycare or school buses if they have fever.