Health Information
January 26, 2007
Sentral Health Information
Helpful Websites
(Sentral is not responsible for the content of these websites)
Iowa
Department of Public Health
CDC's
Division of Adolescent and School Health
Forms
Physical Examinations
Ambulance Form
Tylenol
Form
Emergency Contacts
Should an accident occur or your child becomes ill, the student's parent/guardian(s) will be notified at once. A student is never sent home unless arrangements are made with authorized persons as identified on the emergency card. At registration you will be asked to supply the phone number of an emergency contact person other than the primary parent/guardian phone number in case a student becomes ill or is injured. Please be sure that the neighbor, friend, or relative is aware that you have given their number as an emergency phone number. If an emergency exists and no one can be reached, school personnel will contact the hospital or doctor indicated on the student's emergency contact card.
If at any time during the school year your emergency contact information changes, please notify the school immediately, so that records may be kept current.
Immunizations
The State of Iowa requires that all children be immunized before they may attend school. Your student's health records will be checked on the opening day of school. If he/she is not properly immunized, you will be notified of what steps to take to insure that your student may remain in school.
Physical Examinations
Preschool and Kindergarten: Physical examination is required.
Grades 7-8: Physical forms are required for seventh and eighth grade students involved in athletics.
Grade 9-12: Physical forms are required for all students participating in athletics.
Medication in School
School personnel cannot administer any medication during the school day, including prescription and over-the-counter medication, unless a medication permission form is completed. These forms are available at registration and in the school office throughout the school year.
Prescription medication must be supplied to the school in the labeled prescription container and a permission form signed by parent/legal guardian. The label must include the name of the student, the name of the medication, dosage prescribed, frequency to be given, and the name of prescribing physician. Non-prescription medication must be supplied to the school in the original container and labeled with the student's name. The medication permission form must be completed and signed by the physician and parent/legal guardian before school personnel can administer any over-the-counter medication (this included Tylenol, Advil, and cold medicines).
All medication must be delivered to and from school by a parent/legal guardian. No medication is to be kept by students in their desks, lockers, or on their person.
In accordance with Iowa law (Code 280.16) a student with asthma or other airway-constricting disease may possess their medication while in school and at school sponsored activities. If the student abuses self-administration, permission to self-administer may be withdrawn. The district shall incur no liability of an injury arising from self-administration. The student is responsible for maintaining a self-administration record.
Is your child too sick for school?
Each day many parents are faced with a decision: should they keep their sick children home or send them off to school? The following guidelines, recommended by experts at the Mayo Clinic, should be considered when making this sometimes difficult decision. A student should remain home when he or she:
- Vomits or has diarrhea in the last 24 hours.
- Has an oral temperature higher then 100 degrees.
- Coughs almost constantly or complains of difficulty breathing.
- Exhibits abdominal pain for more then two hours.
- Has sores on mouth or skin that are crusty, yellow or draining.
- Shows symptoms of contagious diseases such as chicken pox, mumps, whooping cough, strep throat.
- Displays an unexplained skin rash or red eye (with or without crusting/drainage).
Keeping a sick child home prevents the spread of illness in the school. It also allows the child opportunity to rest and recover. A sick child cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way.
