A child with vomiting and/or diarrhea should be kept at home until symptoms have resolved for approximately 12 hours and the child is able to keep down food and liquid. Consult your doctor if fever and stomach pains persist or your child has poor oral intake and appears dehydrated (dry mouth, no tears, sunken eyes, urinates less than 4 times in 24 hours)/. Remember to wash your hands frequently.

EARACHE : Consult your doctor during office hours. To relieve pain, give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen as recommended by your child's doctor. A child need not miss school due to an ear infection. 

TOOTHACHE: Call your dentist.

HEADACHE: A child should be kept at home if headaches are severe and do not respond to acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Consult your doctor should the headaches persist.

Children average six to eight colds per year. If cold and cough symptoms are associated with a fever or they do not readily improve, call your doctor. Your child MAY ATTEND SCHOOL if there is no fever (<= 100^oF). 

A sore throat, in conjunction with a fever and swollen glands, may indicate strep throat. Call your doctor during office hours to have your child evaluated. Children are no longer contagious 24 hours on antibiotics.

When the white part of the eye appears red and produces a yellow or green crusty discharge:Call your doctor using office hours should these symptoms persist. Your child may need an eye ointment, and MAY ATTEND SCHOOL after 24 hours of treatment. Remember to wash your hands frequently. Give your child a SEPARATE WASH TOWEL AND WASHCLOTH, AND CHANGE PILLOWCASE.

Your child may attend school with a temperature less than 100 F

Fevers are generally signs of infection. Make sure that you have a THERMOMETER at home and can readily take your child's temperature. Consult your doctor for the best ANTI-FEVER MEDICATION for your child, and if the fever is associated with other symptoms.

A rash is usually the sign of a VIRAL ILLNESS. It may also be a reaction to a medication or chemical (plant, detergents).  If your child has an unusual rash or it is associated with a fever, CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.

1. The location, color, and texture of the rash. 
2. When the rash began. 
3. If your child has a fever. 
4. If your child has been exposed to other children with contagious illnesses. 

Children are sometimes kept home from school for reasons other than illness. Unnecessary absence from school may have a bad effect on a student's progress. Use your own good common sense and remember:

The information on this page is not intended as medical advice, but as simple guidelines to follow until you can contact your doctor or health care provider for advice.

At your child's annual check-up it is wise to discuss what should be done in the event of illness, how and when to contact the doctor, what medication should be available in your home, and possibly even a home medical reference and first-aid kit.

"CONSULT YOU DOCTOR DURING OFFICE HOURS, OR IMMEDIATELY, IF ANY SYMPTOMS BECOME SEVER."

Medication administration is an important issue in schools. Some students require medication at school in order to survive. Others need medications in order to learn. Occasionally, students require antibiotics during the day following a bacterial infection.

The goal of your School Nurse is to administer ONLY those medication which are absolutely necessary during the school day. All other medications should be given at home either before or after school.

State laws requires a written order by a licensed prescriber, AND written parental permission before any medication can be administered to students including OVER-THE-COUNTER medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. You can obtain forms for this purpose from the School Nurse, or from most Health Care Providers.

For the safety of all students, absolutely NO medications are to be carried to school by students. The only exception to this rule is for students who are allowed to carry inhalers or Epi-Pens after certain requirements are met.

With your help, the School Nurse can provide a safe, supervised environment for students who require medications at school.  center>

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide the School Nurse with a completed Medication Order signed by your child's Physician or Health Care Provider: and a completed signed Parent Permission Form before medications can be administered at school.  Please keep in mind that a change in dose or a change in medication will require a new medication order form and permission form.

Provide the School Nurse with no more than a 30 day supply of medication in the ORIGINAL PHARMACY LABELED CONTAINER. MEDICATIONS ARE TO BE DELIVERED TO THE SCHOOL BY A RESPONSIBLE ADULT, NOT BY A STUDENT.

Routinely check with the school nurse to be sure that your child has enough medications on hand at school to prevent him/her from missing doses.

Instruct your child to arrive at the Health Office at the appropriate time for medication each day. 

Be familiar with your prescribed medication and your reason for taking it. 

Arrive at the Health Office at the appropriate time for medications each day.  If you find it difficult to remember to go to the Health Office, you might try: 

* a reminder note to yourself in your lunch box or with your lunch money if your medication is due at
lunchtime.  (Younger children might have a picture or symbol instead of a note.)

* place a sign inside of your locker or notebook to remind you to go to the Health Office.

* wear a watch with an alarm set at the appropriate medication time.

* ask a trusted friend to remind you to go to the Health Office daily.

* although it is the student's responsibility to arrive at the Health Office, we know that everyone forgets on occasion. In most schools, the School Nurse will call for you if you forget to come for your medications. 

* Administer required medications safely to students who need them.

* Notify parents/guardians of any concern regarding medications, side effects, and compliance with the prescribed plan.

* Provide appropriate medications with instructions for administration to teachers when students are outside of the school on a field trip.