School Health Services

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Is My Student Well Enough To Go To School?

Diarrhea/Watery Stools:

  • Students will be sent home from school for:
    • More than two episodes of diarrhea occurring during a school day.
    • One episode of diarrhea if other symptoms are present
      (e.g. fever, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, etc.)
    • Soiling themselves or their clothing.
  • Children may return to school 24 hours after the last diarrhea stool if they feel well and do not have a temperature over 99.5° F without taking a fever-reducing medication such as Tylenol.

 

Vomiting:

  • Children will be sent home from school for:
    • More than one episode of vomiting occurring during a school day.
    • One episode of vomiting if other symptoms are present
      (e.g. fever, abdominal discomfort, diarhea, etc.).
    • Soiling themselves or their clothing.
  • Students may return to school 24 hours after the last vomiting episode.

 

Fever (Normal oral temperature is 98.6 degrees F):

  • Low-grade (Oral temperature 99.5 to 100.9 degrees F):
    • The school nurse will notify the parent/guardian of students with low-grade fever.
    • Students with low-grade fever may remain in school if no other symptoms are present.
    • Students will be sent home from school with low-grade fever if other symptoms (e.g. cough, sore throat, headache, abdominal discomfort, etc.) are present.
  • High-grade:
    • Oral temperature of 101 degrees F or above:
      • Students will be sent home from school for a high-grade fever.
      • Students may not return to school until free of fever for 24 hours.
      • Students will not be dismissed to the bus with a high-grade fever.
    • Oral temperature of 104 degrees F or above:
      • The school nurse will institute measures to bring down the child’s temperature:
        • Allow student to lie down on cot.
        • Ask/assist student to remove outer layers of clothing, such as a jacket, sweater, second shirt, and shoes.
        • Do not place blanket on student.
        • Apply cool washcloth or towel to student’s forehead and arm pits (if area is accessible). Keep cloths cool and damp.
        • Offer sips of cool water only if student is not vomiting and is free of abdominal pains.
      • The parent/guardian will be notified immediately.
      • The school nurse will initiate the school’s Emergency Management Plan if the parent/guardian is unable to arrive at school within fifteen minutes to pick up their student. (See Section E of Rule JLC)
      • The school nurse will notify school administrator that 911 has been called.

 

Drainage:

  • It is not necessary to exclude every student from school who has drainage from the nose, eye, ear or open sores.
  • Exclusion from school will be at the discretion of the school nurse, and/or principal or designee based on the following criteria:
    • Color of discharge
    • Child’s personal hygiene skills and need for assistance
    • Classroom setting
    • Child’s developmental level