SSPJ Nurse's Office
Health Room
Care given at school is limited to first aid for accidents and illnesses incurred at school until the parent/caregiver calls for the child. Emergency cards are kept on each child. These cards provide information to assist in locating parents or an emergency contact when necessary. It is important that this information be kept current.
The school nurses are not permitted to diagnose injuries or illnesses. Decisions regarding the need for medical care rests finally with the parent/caregiver. Parents are always contacted to take the child home or to the doctor as the need arises.
Disabilities should be made known to the school. Note these on the new emergency card each year.
Medication
- Administration of any medication is not permitted without a note from the doctor including the date, time for dosing the medication, and the dosage.
- A pharmacy label does not meet the requirements of a written doctor’s signature. A note from the parent is also required explaining the reason for administering the medication.
- All prescription medications must be sent in to the Health Office in the original or most current container from the pharmacy with the prescription orders clearly labeled. This label must include the student’s name, medication, dosage, instructions for administration, and Health Care Provider’s name. No medication will be administered unless these requirements are met. Medications given less than four times a day should be administered at home, unless otherwise ordered by the Health Care Provider.
Iinformation from the West Chester Area School District
(Download a copy of this information.)
Emergency Cards
Emergency cards must be completed and signed each year by the parent/guardian. If we are unable to reach you in an emergency, a copy of this card will be taken to the hospital with your child. Please update changes throughout the year. If your child wears contact lenses, pleases note this on the card, and have them carry a lens case.
Admission to Health Office and Health Appraisals
Except for emergencies, all students must have authorization from a teacher, administrator, or aide for admission to the Health Office. WCASD policy indicates:
“First aid and emergency treatment shall be given only for health problems arising at school or while the student is engaged in a school activity. Personnel shall not treat injuries or diseases suffered by the student at home or elsewhere, and in no case shall treatment go beyond first aid.”
Nurses are not permitted by state law to make medical diagnoses. Please do not ask the school nurses to evaluate your child’s symptoms for this reason. If your child becomes ill/injured during the school day, transportation is a family responsibility.
- If your child needs treatment during school hours for an injury/illness previously treated at home (Ex: ice for sprains), please send a note, or call, requesting that specific care.
- For the well-being of all, please keep your child home when s/he is ill or until 24 hours after a temperature (>100o) has dropped, and/or vomiting/diarrhea has stopped.
- If you think your child may have a contagious condition (e.g. strep throat, chicken pox, pink eye, flu, etc.) please do not send him/her to school until diagnosed by his/her Health Care Provider and under care for 24 hours.
Please discourage your child from using perfumes/aerosols in consideration of others who are allergic to these.
Medications
All Medications required by students shall be given by parents whenever possible. There are times when it is necessary for a student to take medication during school hours.
Medicines given 3x/day or less should be administered at home, unless your Health Care Provider (HCP=Doctor/Dentist) specifically writes a time during school hours.
- New notes are required each school year and if Rx and/or dose changes.
Prescription and/or homeopathic medications
Prescription medication may be given by school personnel in school only when a physician’s written statement, [signed by HCP, not stamped] which shall include a diagnosis, type of medication, dosage, instructions for administering, and possible side effects, is on file with the school nurse. The parent shall be responsible for supplying the labeled medication and the physician’s written statement.
- A parent/guardian note for medication administration as prescribed by the HCP must be provided.
Medication must be in the most recent, clearly labeled pharmacy container with date, student’s name, medication name, dosage, administration instructions, and health care provider’s name.
For short-term medication use, send in only the doses needed at school in the original container. (Ask the pharmacist if s/he would give you a second bottle for school use)
Non-prescription (Over-The-Counter=OTC) Medication
Only OTC medications described in the current edition of the PDR for Non-Prescription drugs will be administered.
A parent/guardian note requesting medication administration with instructions, including Date, Student’s Name, Medication Name, Dose, Time to Administer, Time of most recent dose given at home, and Reason it is to be given at school, must be provided. This includes Benadryl to be given for allergic reactions occurring outside of school.
Medication must be in the original, labeled container, with expiration date clearly evident.
- All medications are to be kept and administered in the nurse's office. (See exception below,) Students are to bring the medicine to the nurse before going to the classroom. Medicines are NOT to be brought in baggies, foil, pockets, loose, etc.
- No medication can be administered unless the above directions are followed.
Students are not permitted to carry ANY medications with them in school. (Exceptions: Inhalers/epipens/diabetes supplies that are properly labeled, including the student’s name on the item, only when the HCP and parent/guardian notes, specifically stating that they are to be carried by the student, are on file with the School Nurse). Per new state law, your child will be required to report use of his/her inhaler to the school nurse for monitoring purposes.
If your child will NOT be taking his/her Rx on Field Trips, please send a note to the nurse to avoid having the medicine sent on the trip. Any additional doses needed after school hours must comply with the above instructions.
Physical Exams
Physical examinations are required by the PA School Health Law for all students entering Kindergarten/1st grade (new enterers), 6th, and 11th grades, and any student registering for other grades without verification of a physical on his/her School Health Record.
(Pre-K students must have a physical and age-appropriate immunization information on file. Physicals done during the Pre-K year can be accepted for the kindergarten exam).
The Private Physician’s Report, completed, signed, and dated by the Health Care Provider, is due in the nurses’ office by November 1st. (Forms are available in the nurses’ office, at registration, and will be sent home with 5th graders for their 6th grade physical later in the school year). We suggest you keep a copy of this physical at home before sending the form to school.
- Exams must be done on/after Sept.1st of the year prior to entering the grades listed above.
Please return the appropriate form(s) in a sealed envelope addressed to the school nurse.
Screenings
State-mandated screenings include Height, Weight, BMI and Vision on each student annually; Hearing for grades K-3, 7; and Scoliosis for grades 6 and 7. 6th grade scoliosis screenings are to be done with their required physical exam. 7th grade screenings, and any follow-up 8th graders, will be done in the nurses’ office at the time of their other screenings. If necessary, rescreenings will be done 2-3 months later.
You will be notified if there is any reason to recommend that your child be evaluated by his/her HCP.
- It is assumed that your permission is granted for this screening unless the school nurse is notified otherwise, in writing, by October 1st.
A Screening Results Notification Letter for ALL screenings will be sent home to parents as soon as possible after all the screenings are completed and recorded.
Dental screenings are state-mandated for grades K/1 (without previous record from K), 3, and 7. New students will receive the Notice and Private Dentist form at the time of registration. The notice and form will be sent to Grades 2 and 6 later in the school year for the upcoming 3rd and 7th grade requirement.
Immunization Requirements
All dates must be verified by child’s physician’s office)
- DPT/DT - 4 doses (4th dose must be on/after the 4th Birthday; if not, a 5th dose is required)*
- Polio – 3 dose series (4th dose recommended)
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) - 2 doses (1st dose on/after 1st Birthday)*
- Hepatitis-B - 3 dose series (no less than 28 days between 1st and 2nd doses*; 56 days between 2nd and 3rd doses* [minimum 4 months between 1st and 3rd doses]; and completed on/after 6 months of age)*.
- Varivax or verified chicken pox disease - 1 dose before age 13 (2 doses needed after age 13). Required for new school enterers (K/1st grade) and all 7th graders as of September, 2002.
New immunizations may be required when legislation is passed (eg. Tdap, Meningitis, and/or Varivax booster). You will be notified when those regulations are in place.
Thank you for your cooperation with the above laws/policies. If you have any questions about them, please call the School Nurse at 610-363-6530 x155. We look forward to a healthy year!
Note: Physical Exam Forms, Medication Order Forms, etc. are available for download on the WCASD Web Site. Some forms are also available on this page in the download section at the top right of the page.
Note: Due to the HIPAA Law that went into effect 4/14/03, your HCP office might not Fax any forms or information to the school. It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to go to the HCP office to pick up forms, immunization information, medication orders, etc. if the HCP office policy does not allow a Fax.
Rev. Jan, 2007
