Health Services Guidelines

Parents are responsible for informing the school nurse each school year of any medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, seizure disorder, or severe allergy, that may affect your student's functioning and welfare while at school. The health history is completed during registration. If the student has a serious, chronic health condition, the school nurse may ask for a personal meeting with the parents/guardians to further understand the condition and to, if necessary, create a health care plan for the school year. This health care plan is shared with pertinent staff so all involved with the student can provide safe care.

Students who are ill or seriously injured outside of the school day should be kept home until improved, which includes being fever-free (without the aid of a fever-reducing medication) and vomiting-free for 24 hours, or until released by a physician. Please do not send an ill or injured child to school to be diagnosed by the school nurse.

For students who have had a major injury, the school nurse should be provided a doctor's release for the student to return to school that includes directions for activity restrictions and care instructions while in the school environment.

For students who have been diagnosed with a communicable disease requiring an antibiotic, they must be on the antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school. Proof of medical treatment must be presented to the nurse before the student will be re-admitted to school.

A student who becomes ill or is injured during the school day should report to the school clinic for an assessment. If a student becomes too ill or seriously injured during the school day to remain in school, a reasonable effort will be made to contact parents/guardians. Please be certain that emergency contact information is up-to-date and available in PowerSchool. Parents are responsible for both transportation and all follow up care. If a sudden, possibly life-threatening condition should occur, the immediate safety and treatment of the student is the school's first concern. Ambulance transportation to a hospital will be arranged and parents will be contacted as soon as possible. The parent is responsible for cost or all medical care and other services associated with the accident. The school does not provide health insurance for students.

• Temperature of 100*F or more
• Severe sore throat
• Persistent cough
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Severe headache
• Undiagnosed rash or skin infection
• Undiagnosed red and/or draining eyes
• Untreated or severe lice
• Untreated or severe scabies
• Injury that makes it hazardous to be in school
• Draining bodily fluids that cannot be contained
• Any illness that results in a need for care that is greater than the school nurse can provide with compromising the health and safety of other students

During the school year, the school nurse may speak with students regarding cleanliness and healthful hygiene habits. Students may be checked for pestilence and skin disorders. Students are to be clean when sent to school and may be excluded under Indiana State Department of Health regulations if good hygiene is disregarded.

For an absence to be "exempt" due to medical reasons, documentation from a currently licensed medical or dental doctor is required. Such documentation must be presented to the school office upon return to school.

Southmont Schools recognizes the needs of the growing number of students with potentially life-threatening food allergies and harmful food intolerances. To address these needs, the following processes have been established:

• An emergency health plan is written on the student with a diagnosed severe allergy.
• Parents are asked to provide an EpiPen if their child has a severe allergy diagnosed.
• An allergy-free food table can be offered in the cafeteria if a parent chooses.
• A doctor's signature is required stating foods that should be avoided so the student is not served these items.
• A stock EpiPen is available in each health office to be used per Southmont Schools' physician's standing order if an unknown food allergic reaction arises.
• Pertinent cafeteria staff, teachers, support staff, and bus drivers are made aware of students with specific allergies.