Health Office Information

INFECTIOUS DISEASE MANAGEMENT

Mt. Lebanon School District Health Services Department utilizes the Allegheny County Health Department “Guide to Infectious Diseases for Schools and Daycare Centers” when determining if a child should be sent home for illness or disease and when a child should return to school after an infectious illness.

A sick child may not learn effectively and may not be able to participate in classes in a meaningful way.  Keeping a sick child home helps to prevent the spread of illness in the school community and allows the child an opportunity to rest and recover.

Please utilize the following guidelines when determining if your child is well enough or not to attend school:

• Acute cold/cough - where the student is unable to function or concentrate at school

• Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea - children should be free from vomiting/diarrhea for 24 hours before returning to school

• Temperature of 100 degrees or above - children should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication to return to school

• Contagious illness - such as strep throat - conjunctivitis - any illness or disease process that the use of an antibiotic is required - the child should be on the antibiotic for a full 24 hours prior to returning to school

• Suspected contagious disease/rash - if your child is sent to school with a suspected contagious disease/rash,, you will be contacted to pick your child up, a diagnostic referral will be given for your child to be seen by his/her health care provider. The diagnostic referral must be completed and the student cleared for re-admittance by a licensed healthcare provider prior to the student returning to school.  The student must then be checked into school through the nurse’s office.

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that “people with influenza-like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are symptom free.”

• Refer to Home page at mtlsd for COVID information.

6/2021; 8/2021

CONCUSSION FACTS

What is a Concussion?

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC)... a concussion is a type of brain injury that changes the way the brain normally works. A concussion is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. Concussions also occur from a blow to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Concussions have a more serious effect on a young, developing brain. You cannot see a concussion. Signs and symptoms of concussion can show up right after an injury or may not appear or be noticed until hours or days after the injury. After a blow or jolt to the head, It is important to watch for changes in how your child or teen is acting or feeling, if symptoms are getting worse, or if s/he just “doesn’t feel right.” Most concussions occur without loss of consciousness.

Children and teens with a concussion should NEVER return to sports or recreation activities on the same day the injury occurred. They should delay returning to their activities until a health care professional experienced in evaluating for concussion says they are symptom-free and it’s okay to return to play. This means, until permitted, not returning to : (CDC)

**physical education class

**sports practices or games

**physical activity/recess

 

For further information and concussion symptom list, refer to www.cdc.gov/concussion

 

ILLNESS/INJURY

Basic health care is available in the nurse’s office for any illness or injury that occurs during the school day hours. Parents are notified for an illness or injury as the case warrants.

The district is not equipped to provide advanced emergency care.  Students needing urgent medical attention (per the direction of the nurse) will be transported to an emergency care facility by a local ambulance service. 

Parents/guardians should contact their child’s certified school nurse for any special healthcare needs of their child or if your child requires medication during the school day hours. Also, please keep this information current to insure that your child is receiving the best care possible.

Information regarding your child’s health status may be shared as needed with school personnel that your child comes in contact with.  Please refer to Handbooks for further information

READMITTANCE TO SCHOOL

If your child needs to be out of school for surgery/illness/accident, please notify your child’s nurse’s office so that a treatment plan to ensure their safe return to school can be completed.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/RECESS EXCUSES

Your child may be excused from physical education and/or recess for two (2) consecutive classes with a note from a parent/guardian stating the reason for such.

• If a child is out of physical education for any medical reason, then they are also out of recess (if Elementary).  

• If an Elementary child is out of recess, then they are also out of physical education.

If your child needs to remain out of physical education and/or recess for longer than two (2) consecutive classes, a note signed from a Physician, Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Assistant will be required thereafter.

That note should include the following:

• reason for exclusion from physical education classes and/or recess and dates to be excluded

• any accommodations that will be needed (secondary only for physical education classes)- including any academic ones

• if crutches or elevator will be needed, the licensed provider must state that on their note and the dates required

• the length of exclusion - a note is required for a student to return to any activity once being out for a medical reason.

• if a student has any type of sling, brace, ace, stitches, etc. on their body they are to be excluded from gym and recess until it is removed by a licensed healthcare provider and a note stating such or it becomes a chronic issue and the need to wear the apparatus becomes more constant - that will then require a separate note from your child’s licensed healthcare provider

• If your child will not be able to participate in physical education classes or recess due to a lengthy condition, physical education  accommodations in the secondary grades may be able to be made with a licensed health care provider’s order. Please contact your child’s certified school nurse and their physical education teacher for assistance with this.

• If a child is out of physical education classes for any medical reason, then they are also out of recess (if Elementary).  (If an Elementary child is out of recess, then they are also out of physical education classes).

6/2021; 8/2021

 

MEDICATIONS: (PRESCRIPTION AND NON-PRESCRIPTION)

The administration of medication, both prescription and non-prescription, during school hours, is strongly discouraged for safety reasons and to limit traffic in the nurse’s office.  However, if a Pennsylvania Licensed Physician, Physicians Assistant and/or Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner deems it medically necessary for a student to take an FDA approved medication, either prescription or non-prescription, during the school day, please abide by the following procedure:  

• Medication orders must be dated on or after July 1st of the new school year

• Both prescription and over the counter (non-prescription) medications require an order form a licensed prescriber.  

• A new medication order is required for each medication that the student is prescribed (example: Benadryl and an Epinephrine Auto Injector need two (2) different orders).

• Each medication requires the signature of a Pennsylvania Licensed MD/DO, CRNP or PA AND the student’s parent/guardian. The medication form must be turned in to the nurse’s office before any medication can be given by the nurse.

• Prescription medication must come in the labeled pharmacy container with the current dosing instructions on the label.  

  • Each time there would be a dosage change of the same medication, along with a new order, a new pharmacy labeled container with new instructions must be submitted.

• Over the counter medication must come in the original, unopened container and must match the dosage/type on the medication form. (example: if liquid Tylenol is ordered then liquid Tylenol must be brought in).

• Please be mindful of the medication’s expiration date.  Expired medications cannot be administered in the school district.

• No Herbal remedies/oils are FDA approved for administration in a school setting

It is the responsibility of the student to report to the nurse’s office for his/her medication.  Please remember that your child may not receive his/her medication if these procedures are not followed.

Per the state of Pennsylvania, students are only permitted to self carry/self adminisster the following medications:

• Epinephrine Auto Injectors

• Rescue Inhalers

• Diabetic medications/supplies

Please be aware it is a violation of the district’s drug and alcohol policy to self-carry any medication with the only exceptions being: Rescue Inhalers, Epinephrine Auto Injectors and insulin pumps/pens/supplies.

 In order for students to self- carry/self administer the above mentioned emergency medications, the following steps are required: 

• All paperwork must be completed and submitted to the nurse’s office 

• Paperwork is reviewed by a certified school nurse and the student completes the self carry assessment with the certified school nurse in order to self carry their medication.

Refer to the Medication Policy for complete details on medication administration.

6/2021; 8/2021;3/22

Food Restriction Management Guidelines

There is an increasing prevalence of life threatening food allergies and food restrictions in school age children. The following guidelines are designed to help maintain a safe and secure environment for students with life threatening food allergies and food restrictions.

Food Restriction Management Guidelines

 

HEALTH INSURANCE

If your child does not have health insurance, free or low cost coverage is available through Pennsylvania Children’s Health Insurance Program, (CHIP). CHIP is administered by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department and the coverage is for quality medical services through regular health insurance companies. Applications for CHIP are available in all the school nurse’s offices or you may call 1-800-986-KIDS.  http://www.chipcoverpakiksa.com/

6/2021

 

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

The nurse’s office maintains Emergency Contact/Release Information for each student. This information facilitates the care of an ill or injured student as well as provides nursing office staff with routine contact and release information. Only those persons, (including parents/guardians), indicated on this document will be contacted and can give permission for the student to leave the building. In Elementary and Middle School, the child must be picked up from the nurse’s  office. Facilities are available for temporary care only. Parents should develop a plan that would allow their child to be picked up from school within a half hour of notification of an illness or an injury.

It is essential that parents keep this information current. Please update EACH SCHOOL YEAR your emergency contact numbers/medical information via dashboard for each child in your household that attends the District Schools. To update your child’s Emergency Contact/Release Information go to the Parent Dashboard under Account Preferences. Families with more than one Dashboard account should contact their child’s building secretary to update.

6/2021; 8/2021

Electronic Emergency Contact/Release Letter