Health Policy Letter

Illness

Studentswith the following symptoms should remain home or may be sent home from school:

• Fever: Temperature of 100º F or above. The child’s temperature must remain below 100º for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).
• Vomiting: The child should be free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Diarrhea: Two or more liquid stools in a 24 hour period. The child should be free of symptoms for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Persistent symptoms: Signs of illness that could disrupt the student’s learning and/or pose a risk of illness to others. Examples include extreme nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, uncontrolled cough, headaches not responding to medication, dizziness, lack of appetite or extreme fatigue.
• Rash: A contagious rash or a new, unexplained skin eruption/rash.
• Communicable illnesses: An illness for which you have been advised to keep your child out of school until cleared to return by your child’s doctor.
• Any other health condition that is of concern for the child’s health and well-being and/or that of others in the school building.
• Any health condition in which the school staff do not feel comfortable in managing or monitoring the student.

Medication

Any medication brought from home to be given at school MUST be FDA-approved, brought in the original, labeled bottle with label directions intact and have a completed Medication Authorization Form (available under Health Forms) in order to be accepted and/or administered. The Medication Authorization Form needs to be completed and signed by parent/guardian. If it is a prescription medication, it must be in the current prescription bottle with pharmacy label intact.

Parents should bring in and pick up all medications. All medication needs to be brought to and stored in the school office. If not picked up by the parent, unused medication will be disposed of upon expiration of medication or at the end of the current school year, whichever comes first.

Students may not carry any medications. With aparent AND physician signed form, a student may be allowed to carry their asthma medication, inhaler or epinephrine auto-injector. An intact pharmacy label must be directly on the device to be carried.

On the Health Registration Form, if you selected to give permission to the school, over-the-counter medications (such as but not limited to acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment or cough drops) may be given to your child if supply is available. Medication will only be given per label indication and dosed according to age.

Health Screenings

Vision

Vision screenings are required by the IDPH for students in Kindergarten and 3rd Grade. Vision screens will be conducted by Health Services of Lyon County in the fall of each school year for students in Kindergarten, 3rd and 7th grades. Students whose vision screening result is 20/40 or worse will have a letter sent to parents referring them to an eye doctor for a more thorough exam.

Hearing

Hearing screenings are conducted in the fall by the Northwest AEA. Annual hearing screens are done in the schools for K-5th Grade, 8th Grade, students new to the school district and any student with a known hearing loss. All children (Iowa residents) birth through high school can be tested at any time by calling the NW AEA Hearing Department.