Nevada r-5 school health program

Welcome to Nevada Schools Health Services Program!
“A child must be healthy to learn, and must learn to be healthy!”

As always, our health emphasis will be on disease prevention! We know that the single most effective way to prevent the
spread of disease is by washing your hands! Please encourage your children to wash their hands before they eat and
especially after using the bathroom. Hand sanitizer has also been shown to significantly reduce the number of infections in
school children when used in combination with hand washing. Another easy prevention measure is to not share drinking or
eating utensils! Practicing these two simple measures may keep you and your children healthier during the year and also
lead to healthy hygiene habits.

Immunizations - Please make sure that your child’s immunizations are up to date BEFORE school starts!! We will be
notifying you if your child’s immunizations are not current, in accordance with Missouri law. If you receive such notification,
please take your child to the Vernon County Health Department, or his/her healthcare provider to obtain the needed
immunizations. This is a state requirement for school attendance.

Head Lice – To elementary parents, we strongly encourage you routinely inspect your child’s hair for head lice. If you
have any questions or suspect your child may have head lice, contact the school nurse for information or assistance.
Screening will be done as necessary by the nursing staff. If live head lice/viable nits (eggs) are found by the school nurse, you
will be notified and will be given instructions regarding treatment. See our health program webpage for more prevention and
treatment information.

Screenings Vision, hearing and/or dental screenings will begin in September for grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 & 9; all new
students; and others, as referred. Students in grades Kindergarten through 2nd will be given the opportunity to participate in a
free dental screening, including fluoride varnish and sealant application. Parents will be given permission forms for this
program by the school nurse. Students in grades 3-5 will again be allowed to participate in the free fluoride varnish program,
with a signed parent permission form. If you do NOT want your child to be screened, please notify the school nurse.
Parents will be contacted by a phone call or letter if a concern is found during your child’s screening. Please let the school
nurse know if you take your child to a physician/nurse practitioner, eye doctor or dentist following a screening
referral. This will al ow the nurse to update your child’s health record.


We ask that a new Student Health Information form be filled out each year to update your child’s medical information and
emergency numbers. This form is extremely important in order for us to care for your child during the school day or in an
emergency situation. Please complete the front and back of the form and return it to your child’s school nurse or teacher.
You may also find this form online if you do not receive a copy at your student’s building open house.

Medication policy - Our policy helps to ensure the safe delivery of medicine to your child while in the school setting.
If your child requires prescription medication to be given at school, we MUST have a medication authorization
form signed by both the physician and you, the parent! Check with your school or health office to obtain the form.
Please remember that students in grades K-8 are not permitted to transport medication to/from school.
Medication must be brought to school in a current pharmacy labeled bottle or in its original container. Local
pharmacies are familiar with our policy and wil , upon request, give you a labeled “school bottle”.
Notify your child’s school nurse if there are dosage or medication changes.
Morning (A.M.) medications should be given at home so that your child is ready to learn and participate in his/her
education when they arrive at school.
Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Tums are the ONLY over-the-counter medications that can be given at school without a
doctor’s written order and ONLY IF the parent has signed the medication authorization on the back of the Health
Information form.
Nutrition is IMPORTANT! - As advocates for your child’s health, we ask your help in stressing the importance of good
nutrition and exercise to your children by both instruction and example. Make sure your child eats breakfast each day!
Research studies show that children and adolescents, who eat breakfast, perform better in school and spend less time in the
nurse’s office. Encourage your child to drink water or milk instead of sugary drinks. Children who are well hydrated have
fewer headaches and stomachaches.
When to Keep Your Child Home from School and Common Childhood Illnesses Seen In the School Setting - Please
refer to the back side of this letter when deciding if you should send your child to school. If your child has a fever of 100
degrees or higher, he/she will need to go home where they should stay until they do NOT have a fever for 24 hours without
receiving ANY Tylenol or Ibuprofen. PLEASE do NOT send your student to school if they have had a fever the night
before. Keep them home and monitor their temperature for the day.

Let’s have a HEALTHY 2013-14 school year!
When to Keep Your Child Home from School???
“Wellness should be everyone’s goal and expectation for themselves!”

One of the many issues confronting parents today occurs when a child complains of not feeling well. Should the child stay at home or go to
school? After many years of seeing children in our health offices, we would like to share some suggestions/guidelines that may be helpful as
you make your decision.
First of all, we realize that children occasionally try to use illness as a reason to stay home from school. Unnecessary absences do affect a
student’s attitude, school work and educational progress. Therefore, we would ask you, as parents, to encourage healthy behaviors that
foster and promote health in your home environment. To prevent the spread of illness, encourage sneezing and coughing into one’s
elbow, not sharing beverages and eating utensils, and of course, frequent hand washing!

If your child has any of the following symptoms, we recommend that the student remain at home until further evaluated or symptom-free.
Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit OR fever over 100 degrees the night before. Students need to be fever free (without the use of Tylenol or
Ibuprofen) for 24 hours before returning to school to prevent the spread of illness.
Diarrhea (more than 2 loose stools per day) Persistent pain (earache, toothache, severe headache, etc)
Secondly, PLEASE do not send your child to school and ask the school nurse or teacher to make a decision as to whether he/she
should stay at home or attend school. As a parent, you know your child and the situation better than anyone. Please call us to
discuss the symptoms and/ or to let us know that your child is ill. By keeping your child home, others may not be exposed and become
ill.
Lastly, if your child has frequent complaints that result in school absences, consider the possibility that your child may have a school
avoidance issue. This should be addressed early with your child’s healthcare provider, the teacher, school counselor or principal before
too many days have been missed and a pattern established.
Common Childhood Illnesses Seen in the School Setting
Exclusion from school may be necessary; if a child has a fever over 100 degrees, symptoms that interfere with his/her learning and
participation, or the student needs further medical evaluation to determine the contagiousness of the illness. Despite your best efforts,
your child will likely get sick---especially during the first few years of contact with larger groups of children. Immunity does improve
with time. Please, call your school nurse if you have any questions related to the health of your child and contagious diseases.
1. Colds and other viral illnesses that affect the throat, nose and sinuses. Children tend to have more severe & longer lasting
symptoms than adults. Encourage fluids, give Tylenol/Motrin/Advil (IB) for a fever, (NO aspirin), and encourage rest.
2. Stomach flu (gastroenteritis) – Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea which can lead to dehydration in young children.
Re-hydrate with clear liquids and introduce easy to digest foods, i.e. broth, toast, rice, avoid dairy products.
3. Ear infections are common between the ages of 5 and 6, triggered by respiratory illness. Colds or allergies may cause congestion
and fluid, trapped in the middle ear, becomes a breeding ground for virus/bacteria. Pain reliever may be needed for discomfort
and a healthcare provider assessment performed, if symptoms persist.
4. Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is an inflammation (redness) of the clear membrane that covers the white part of the eye and lines the
inner surface of the eyelids. Clear, yellow, or green drainage may be present. A warm or cool compress can be applied to the eye
to ease discomfort. This is usually treated by a healthcare provider or an optometrist with prescription eye drops.
5. Sore throat - Most sore throats are caused by viruses and are associated with other respiratory symptoms. Approx. 15% are
caused by bacteria called streptococci which cause symptoms of painful swallowing and/or fever. Antibiotics are required to treat
this infection. Untreated strep can result in rheumatic fever with involvement of the heart valves. If strep is identified, the child
must be on an antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school.
6. Fifth disease (“slapped cheek disease”) is a mild viral infection that generally requires little or no treatment. Children
may have mild, cold-like symptoms with a rash on the face and body from 5 days to 3 weeks. The rash may be bright red on the face and eventually extend to rest of the body. It may appear as pink, lacy and slightly raised. The rash appears near the end of the illness and may fade, then become more visible if exposed to extreme temperatures. It may be itchy. (Pregnant women or anyone with a lowered immunity should contact their healthcare provider if they have had direct exposure to Fifth Disease.)
7. Ringworm are flat, ring-shaped lesions that are scaly red and gradually expand outward, leaving clear skin in the center.
The lesion must be treated with antifungal cream/ointment before returning to school. It should be covered with clothing or a
bandage while at school.
8. Impetigo is a skin lesion with several stages, including raised pimples filled with fluid or pus and crusted areas. It is caused by a
bacteria and treated with liquid and/or topical antibiotics for 24 hrs before returning to school. 9. Chickenpox usually starts with a fever followed by raised pimple-like bumps that fill with fluid. Later, scabs form with more “pimples”
appearing up to the 10th day. Children may return to school when ALL lesions are crusted and there are no new bumps that form.

Source: http://www.nevada.k12.mo.us/health/Parent_BTS_ltr_13-14.pdf