School Health Program
The State of Maryland requires that each school system, with
assistance from the local county health department, provides school
health
services in all public schools. In Caroline County Public Schools
(CCPS) the health services program is administered by CCPS, and the Caroline County Health Department provides assistance
with
health screenings, development of policies, and medical consultation.
CCPS is very fortunate to have a nurse in every one of our schools who is trained in first aid, CPR/AED, and emergency procedures.
Among other services, school nurses maintain student health
records, perform state-required health screenings, administer
provider-prescribed
medications, perform nursing procedures, respond to student
illnesses and accidents, provide health counseling and referrals,
develop nursing care plans for students with health concerns, conduct health-related classroom instruction, and serve as a parent
and classroom consultant in health-related matters. In addition,
several
of our schools are also staffed with Health Assistants who perform
tasks as directed by the School Nurse.
Attendance
Consistent attendance plays a critical part in a child’s
academic and social education. It is a parent’s responsibility
to make sure that children attend school, are not late for school
or have un-excused absences. Students may be excused from school
for illness and health care appointments that cannot be arranged
at another time. Please try to arrange doctor and dentist appointments
when your child is not in school. If your child is absent from
school because of illness, please send a note to school when
your child returns.
The school nurse may call you if your child is in the health room. This does not always mean that your child needs to go home. The nurse may just want to make you aware of the situation or she may call because your child has requested she do so. If you choose to pick your child up from school, the day may not be considered a certified absence. IF you are unsure, ask the school nurse if the day will be certified. If the day is not certified by the nurse, you should provide a parent note for the absence.
Health Screenings
Record of Physical Exam (.pdf)
Immunization
Form (DHMH 896) (.pdf)
Physical Examination:
Every child entering the Maryland public school system for the
first time is required to have a physical examination. The physical
examination form designated by the Maryland State Department
of Education and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
shall
be used to meet this requirement. Physical examination forms
may be obtained from the School Nurse or downloaded from this
web site.
The examination must be completed by a doctor or certified nurse
practitioner. If parents are not able to obtain a physical for
their child they should speak to the School Nurse and she will
assist them in this matter.
Hearing and Vision Screenings:
Hearing and vision screenings are provided to all students attending
public schools in Maryland. Screenings are performed in the years
that a student enters the school system for the first time and
in the 1st and 8th grade. In addition, any student who is suspected of having a hearing or vision problem may be screened by the school nurse upon request.
The results are part of the student's permanent health
record and given to the parents of any student who fails the
screenings.
Immunizations
The following immunizations are required for school attendance;
the School Nurse can explain medical or religious exceptions
to this requirement.
Vaccine
Requirements: School Year 2011-2012 (.pdf)
Medications
Statewide
Medication Administration Form (.pdf) Ideally, medications should be administered at home if at all possible. When there is a need for a student to receive medication in school, safe and proper administration is essential. All medications, whether prescription or over-the-counter, including cough drops and ointments, must be kept in the health room with the exception of state mandated emergency medications. Medications must be brought to school by a parent or responsible adult, be in the original labeled container and must be accompanied by a Maryland State School Medication Administration Form signed by both the prescribing medical or dental provider and the parent or legal guardian. A new medication administration form is required at the beginning of each school year for each medication, and each time there is a change in dosage or time of administration of a medication. Medication administration forms may be obtained form the School Nurse or from this web site. Any medications remaining after the order is discontinued or at the end of the school year will be destroyed unless picked up by a parent or other responsible adult within the designated timeframe.
Communicable Illness
Please report any communicable illness your child has to the
School Nurse as soon as possible. This includes, but is not limited
to,
chicken pox, strep throat, scarlet fever, fifths disease, ringworm,
pin worm, pink eye and lice. CCPS reserves the right to
exclude students from school based on the following criteria:
• Illness that prevents the student from participating in activities
that he/she normally would participate in.
• Fever (100.0 or higher). Students may not return to school until
they have been free of fever, without fever medication, for 24
hours.
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• Rash with fever
• Other conditions deemed appropriate after assessment by the School
Nurse.
Educators, staff and parents can help slow the spread of germs
in school. The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are
spread is from person to person through coughing and sneezing.
Germs are
spread when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person
moves through the air and are deposited on the mouth or nose
of people nearby. Germs are also spread when a person touches
respiratory
droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then
touches his or her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their
hands.
Parents please help stop the spread of
germs at home and in school by reminding your child to:
- Cover
their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze
and then throw the tissue into a trash
can
or cough or
sneeze into their elbow (bringing the arm across
their face and coughing
or sneezing into the inside of their elbow) effectively
not allowing the secretions/respiratory droplets to
come into contact
with
the air or hands
- Wash their hands often with soap
and water or use a hand sanitizer
- Remind your child not
to touch or put objects in their mouth, eyes or nose.
Pediculosis or Head Lice
Any time children come together, particularly at the start
of the school year or any social grouping like scouts and little
league, head lice cases commonly increase. This is not a
cause for panic, but a cause for action to be taken to prevent
head
lice.
Head lice are small insects that live in people’s hair
and feed on their blood. Lice die quickly (usually within 2
days) without feeding so they cannot live very long away
from the human
head.
Please encourage your child not to share or trade personal
items such as hats, combs, brushes, headbands, barrettes, scarves, helmets, or headphones with foam ear protectors.
Direct,
physical, head-to-head contact is the usual method of transmission.
Lice do not jump, fly or swim. They are, however, good crawlers.
Check your child’s head weekly for lice and/or nits (eggs).
Mature lice, which are no bigger than a sesame seed, avoid light
and are hard to see. Lice eggs or nits are usually found close
to the scalp, usually within a 1⁄4 inch. Nits appear as
tiny whitish ovals that are “glued” to the hair
shaft by a waterproof, cement-like substance. Nits cannot be
washed
or brushed out of the hair like ordinary dandruff can. Lice
shampoos do not remove nits from the hair; nits must be combed
out or
manually removed.
Head lice do not transmit disease but they do cause intense
itching of the scalp. Nits take 6-9 days to hatch and seven
or more days
for the lice to become egg-laying adults.
The only way you will know if your child has lice is to look
through their hair.
If you find head lice on your child, please notify the School
Nurse and keep your child home until properly treated ad free of live lice.
Treatment:
Anyone can get head lice. If you child has head lice all family
members hair must be checked. Common places to find lice are
close to the scalp, the neckline, and behind the ears.
- There are several non-prescription treatments available
at the drugstore. The Maryland State Department of Health
and Mental
Hygiene recommend’s the use of NIX, a cream
rinse treatment.
- Remove all nits by using a fine-tooth comb
or by gently sliding the nit down the hair shaft using your
thumb and
index finger
(this may take several days to be sure all nits are gone).
- Treat
the home environment; wash all clothing (including hats, scarves,
coats) bed linens and towels used within the
past 48
hours in very hot water. Any items that cannot be washed
should be dry cleaned. Cloth toys, stuffed animals and similar
items
should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for 10 days. Boil
combs, brushes, barrettes for 5 minutes or soak them in rubbing
alcohol
or Lysol for one hour. Vacuum carpets, mattresses, pillows,
and furniture thoroughly.
The treatment didn't’t work….
The reasons treatment may not have worked include:
- The directions on the treatment product were not followed
closely enough.
- The nits were not completely removed.
- The child got head lice
again from a family member or playmate.
If the NIX product did not work and you feel sure all family
members and the child’s environment received proper treatment
you should talk with your doctor about using a prescription
treatment. There is no proof that treatments such as vinegar,
mayonnaise,
olive oil, or lotions that suffocate lice work.
CCPS policy requires that students must be excluded from school
until properly treated. If a case of head lice is detected
in a classroom,
any siblings or children living in the same household will be screened. In order
for students to be re-admitted to school the parent or guardian
must complete the “Checklist for Head Lice Treatment” (given
to them by the School Nurse). In addition, the student
must be examined by the school health staff and found to be
lice-free.
For those students who are repeatedly infested and whose parents
seem unwilling or unable to prevent further infestations, a
team of health and school personnel may be sent to the home
to inspect
the premises and make suggestions as to how to get the situation
under control.
School Nurses are an excellent resource and parents are encouraged
to contact their child’s School Nurse with any questions
or for help if their child becomes infested with head lice.
CCPS Health Management Guidelines
Many students who attend public school today have chronic health issues or disabilities. The school nurse is the health care professional at school that is responsible for managing the care of these students. CCPS has developed guidelines in conjunction with the Maryland Department of Education in order to ensure that these children obtain the care they need so that they can participate to the greatest extent in the educational program. The school nurse will use these guidelines in the planning and implementation of care at school. The school nurse will develop an individualized care plan for those students who require one. Students who require plans may include:
- Medically fragile students who may have several healthcare needs,
- Students who require prolonged HR visits or are seen multiple times per day, and
- Student who have health care needs as part of a 504 or IEP
CCPS guidelines related to specific health care needs may be accessed through the following links:
Emergency Contact Information
Emergency forms are sent home at the beginning of each school
year. It is very important for the safety of your child
for you to update the forms with the most current contact and
health information pertaining to your child. The form provides
the
school
with information about significant health concerns you
may
have about your child (allergies, medications, and chronic
conditions
such as diabetes, and asthma). Please update the form,
sign it and return it promptly. To keep this information current,
please
inform the school of any changes in phone numbers or medical
status as soon as they occur.
Tips for helping your Elementary
School Age Child to be Healthier and Stronger for School:
Encourage your child to…
- Have a good healthy diet, including a good
breakfast (Please insist on nutritious and wholesome foods).
- Get
plenty of sleep each night – the recommended amount
of sleep for 4, 5 and 6 year olds is 10 – 12 hours per
night!
- Properly use a tissue and cover sneezes and coughs – and
learn how to blow his/her nose.
- Properly care for himself/herself
at the toilet: How to flush and wash hands.
- Know the importance
of washing hands properly before eating.
- Learn how to put
on and remove outdoor clothing, including shoes and boots.
- Learn
to button or zip his/her coat, jacket or sweater and hang
it up properly.
- Learn how to turn his/her jacket or sweater
right side out if necessary
Helping Your Child to Be Safe
Your child will be safer if he/she …
- Learns to cross streets carefully
- Knows what to do if he/she
comes home and no one is home
- Knows where to stand and wait
for the bus
- Knows good bus safety rules
- Knows his/her bus number
- Learns his/her address and phone
number
- Learns how to avoid strangers
- Keeps fingers and objects out
of his/her mouth
- Wears footwear that is comfortable and not
dangerous when he/she is running, jumping and playing on
the playground equipment.
School Based Health Centers
In partnership with Choptank Community Health System (CCHS), Caroline COunty Public Schools is proud to offer health services to our students during the school day through School Based Health Centers (SBHC). These centers are currently offered at 8 of the county schools:
Denton Elementary
Greensboro Elementary
Ridgely Elementary
Federalsburg Elementary
Lockerman Middle
Colonel Richardson Middle
Colonel Richardson High
North Caroline High
The SBHC program is a valuable service that decreases the time your child misses from school, decreases the amount of time you may miss from work, and provides quality healthcare to the county's students.
The SBHC are staffed by CCHS nurse practitioners and physicians assistants who are able to provide sick care (including treatments, medications and prescriptions as needed), perform physicals (new entrant physicals and sports physicals), and conduct health risk appraisals to identify students who may need additional support.
Parents/legal guardians may enroll their children in these programs by completing the SBHC enrollment packet:
Choptank Community Health System -Caroline County School Based Health Centers (.pdf)
This program has a one-time enrollment process: Once a student is enrolled, he or she does not need to re-enroll each year. However, the SBHC will request updated demographic (address, phone number, contacts and insurance) and health information via the student information update that is sent home by the school at the beginning of each school year.
If the student has insurance, the SBHC will bill your insurer for services, you will never be billed for any services your insurance denies or does not cover. If your child does not have insurance, there is a sliding scale fee. The only exception to this is sports physicals the center has been requested to perform by a parent or guardian. These are not billed to insurance and are free of charge.
Dental services are also offered. However, these services are offered in all 9 county schools. Parents/legal guardians may enroll their children in this program by completing the SBDP enrollment packet:
Choptank Community Health System -Caroline County School Based Dental Program (.pdf)
Dental services include screenings, cleanings, fluoride sealants and referrals for restorative services.
|
