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1.
IMMUNIZATIONS: All students must be completely
immunized in order to attend school. Massachusetts
immunization regulations specify minimum immunization
requirements for enrollment in school (105CMR 220.00). Those
students with documented medical contraindications or
documented religious beliefs are the only ones exempt from
the immunization regulation. However, any student who is not
properly immunized will be excluded from school if there is
a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak (105cmr300.000,MGL.c111,ss,3,6,7,109,110,111,112).
The length of exclusion is determined by Department of
Public Health guidelines and may vary according to disease.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to send a copy of
any and all updated immunizations to the school nurse as
soon as the vaccine is given. This information is essential
to keep current health records.
2.
FIRST AID: First aid is treatment given to
protect the life and comfort of the student until authorized
treatment is secured and is limited to first treatment ONLY;
following first aid, the student is to be placed under the
care of his/her parent or guardian, upon whom rests the
legal responsibility for subsequent treatment. If a student
becomes ill or injured at school, first aid will be
administered in accordance with school policy. In the event
a student becomes seriously ill or injured, every effort
will be made to reach the parent. If a parent cannot be
reached, the student will be transported via ambulance to
the nearest hospital emergency room. Any illness or injury
that occurs at home should be evaluated by the student’s own
physician.
3.
MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION POLICY:
Prescription and over-the-counter medication may not be
administered to a student while at school unless such
medicine is given by the school nurse acting under the
specific request of the parent or guardian and under written
directive of the student’s personal physician (in
accordance with 105 C.M.R. 210.00 and the Board of
Registration of Nursing Policy for the Administration
of Medications dated June 3, 1992). In the instance of
a field trip when the nurse is inaccessible, the school
nurse will delegate medication administration privileges to
a responsible adult in accordance with Department of Public
Health Regulations 210.005 (E) (1) (0). It is recognized
that over-the counter medications include a wide array of
medical substances from common aspirin to herbal remedies,
homeopathic treatment, and nutritional supplements. In
accordance with all stated guidelines, the school nurse will
administer medications under the following conditions.
-
Parent/Guardian consent is on file.
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Physician, dentist, or nurse practitioner written
order is on file or a standing order per school physician
(Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl) is on file.
-
Pharmacy label or original manufactures container
with drug name, dose, dosage, and dosage interval is
written on the bottle.
-
Indications and counter indications for drug use
are known.
-
Potential adverse effects of the drug are known.
A parent or responsible adult must
bring the medication to school to leave with the school
nurse. If a parent or guardian would like his/her child to
receive medication during school hours without oversight
from a licensed prescriber in accordance with the
aforementioned guidelines, he or she has the option of
coming to school to administer the treatment to his/her
child at a predetermined time. Any child found carrying an
over-the-counter medication or prescription medication will
be disciplined according to the school discipline chart for
medication. Any medication not picked up by the last day of
school will be disposed of according to DPH guidelines.
4.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFESTATIONS: The
Massachusetts Department of Public Health has identified the
following as being particular problems among the school
population.
A.
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
B.
Impetigo
C.
Streptococcal Infections (strep throat)
D.
Pediculosis (head lice)
E.
Scabies
F.
Chicken Pox
*This list is not all-inclusive.
Please contact the school nurse if you have any questions.
If the school nurse suspects the presence of one of
these, or any other contagious disease, it will be necessary
for the student to leave school and seek the advice of
his/her physician. In the case of a confirmed diagnosis of a
communicable disease or infestation, the student will be
required to stay out of school until the condition is
treated and rendered non-communicable. Parents are asked to
report all cases of communicable disease to the school
nurse.
5.
HEALTH RECORDS: The school nurse maintains a
current health record on each student. This record contains
the data from each of the services included in the school
health services program. If a student receives a physical
examination or an immunization booster, he/she should notify
the school nurse to facilitate accurate record keeping. It
is essential, too, that the school nurse be alerted to any
significant health problems which a student may have.
Upon graduation or transfer the original health record will
be provided to the student. A release of information must be
signed to transfer health records.
6.
PUPIL EMERGENCY INFORMATION: Each fall you
will receive an emergency information form. It is vital to
all concerned that you complete this form annually and
return it promptly to the school. This information may
change from one school year to the next. It is essential
that the information on the form be accurate and up-to-date,
so that parents/guardians/alternates can be reached should
illness or accidents occur. The form has space for the names
of alternate persons to be called in case parents cannot be
reached. Please be sure that the person designated as an
alternate is willing and able to serve in this capacity, and
please use a person who lives in the area.
7.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS: It is mandated by state
law that kindergarten, fourth, seventh, and tenth grade
students have physical examinations by their physicians. All
transfer students must also have a physical within the
current year.
8.
SPORT PHYSICALS: A physical examination is
required for athletic participation prior to the first
practice session. An athlete is required to have only one
physical exam each year. Physicals are given by the school
doctor in school during the month of May or June. Any student that
intends on playing a sport during the following school year
is strongly encouraged to have his/her physical at this
time. If the physical is not done in school a copy of the
child’s private physicians exam must be on file in the
nurse's office and the child’s private physician's exam
must be on file in the nurse's office and the child will
need to have a clearance form from the nurse in order to
practice or participate in any sport.
Notifications of examination dates will be made
through announcements during
regular school hours.
9. ANNUAL
SCREENINGS:
All students in grades K-12 are screened
annually for vision and hearing in years that a waiver is
not filed with DPH. During years when a screening waiver is
filed with DPH vision screening will be done for students in
grades K-5 and 7 & 9. Hearing screening will be done for
students in grades K-3 and 7 & 9.
Annual postural screening is done for students
in grades 5 through 9.
Any student not screened in school will
need a note from his/her licensed healthcare provider (i.e.;
nurse practitioner, PA or MD) stating that the child was
screened at his/her office.
10.
See
School
Health Policy (Adobe PDF Format)
for Attendance guidelines for illness.
11.
INSURANCE INFORMATION: All children in the
state of Massachusetts have access to health insurance. If
your child is not covered by health insurance, please
contact the Hadley Elementary school nurse (582-6454) or the
Hopkins Academy school nurse (582-6446) and she can provide you
with information regarding the Children’s Medical Security
Plan and Mass Health.
12. NEW
STUDENTS: Any student entering the school must provide
an up-to-date and complete immunization record, a physical
exam that has been completed within the last year, and
completed emergency form, as well as a health history form
completed and signed by the parent/guardian. NO student will
be allowed entrance into school without, at the minimum, a
complete and up-to-date immunization record.
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Hadley Public Schools, All Rights Reserved