HEALTH SERVICES
FILE: JHC, JHCD, JHCD-R
Update from MSAD No. 75 School Nurses:
As we begin the school year, we are excited to be coming back together. We are following the Maine CDC guidelines as well as the recommendations put forth by the Department of Education and the Maine Association of School Nurses.
We understand that you will have many questions and concerns, and we hope to address some of these here as you prepare yourselves and your students for a return to school.
As school nurses, we also know that everyone must make an effort to keep our community safe. We can only do this if we work together. We are asking you to do the following:
1. Complete the pre-screening tool every morning before coming to school. This screener walks you through signs and symptoms of COVID-19. It is important to do exactly as it says. IF your child has just ONE of the most common symptoms, such as a cough, he/she needs to stay home.
2. If your child is sick, please keep him/her home.
3. Do not send your child to school after giving them any fever-reducing medication for fever or
illness (Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprofen, Motrin, etc).
4. If daily medications can be given at home, please do so.
5. Have plans for:
Importantly, please make sure that your child’s immunizations are up to date. This is especially important during a pandemic to keep other infectious diseases out of the school as much as possible.
We will provide updates to families if any information changes. Thank you for your support.
Frequently-Asked Questions
Must my child wear a face covering at school?
Yes. Children aged 5 and older, and adults will wear face coverings on the bus and in school. Two face coverings will be provided to every student by the District. They may remove them to eat and drink but must maintain a 6-foot distance when doing so. The students will be taught how to properly wear and store their masks. It is important for your child to have a clean mask each day.
According to the latest CDC guidance:
· Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19 (a single layer bandana or handkerchief tied in a triangle fashion is not an acceptable face covering).
· Wear the mask over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin.
· Neck gaiters are not approved at this time.
What is the District doing to reduce the spread of the virus?
The following are being done daily:
· Pre-screening tool
· Physical distancing
· Face coverings
· Hand hygiene
· Personal protective equipment
How will illness be handled at school?
If a student displays any symptoms of Covid-19, he/she will be kept in an isolation room until a parent arrives. Please be available by phone and make arrangements for your child to be promptly picked up from school.
What will happen if there is a positive case in an MSAD No. 75 school?
The Maine CDC handles all communicable diseases in Maine, by Law, and will coordinate with the school on a case- by-case basis.
HEALTH CENTER OVERVIEW
The School Nurse provides care for students and staff by administering first aid as needed, educating students on personal health and well-being, and meeting with staff and faculty to discuss the needs of their students. The school nurse assists the team to monitor student attendance and follows up with excessive days of absence related to illness or medical needs.
A pass from the teacher is required for a student to visit the Health Center. If the nurse is unavailable, the student should report to the Main Office for assistance.
Physician’s orders from Dr. Losey, our school physician, are listed below. The orders allow the school nurse to administer the following:
WOUND CARE: Antibacterial soap, hydrogen peroxide, Bactine (benzolkonium chloride) solution, triple antibiotic ointment.
SKIN CARE: Caladryl, ½% hydrocortisone cream, aloe vera gel, A&D ointment, burn gel, sting swab for insect stings.
MISCELLANEOUS: Sterile isotonic eyewash for minor eye irritations, Refresh or Clear Eye eye drops, Oragel or Anbesol for minor tooth irritations, Tums for minor stomach upset.
Please send a written statement to notify the nurse if you do not wish to have your child receive these treatments.
Parents of students with allergies, special dietary needs, or medical conditions, should send a note or meet with the nurse to explain their child’s special needs. The parents and nurse will communicate these needs to the kitchen staff and faculty to ensure their child’s needs are met.
MEDICATION POLICY
If it is necessary for a student to obtain medication at school (prescription or non-prescription), the medication must be sent to the Health Center in the original container and properly labeled with the name of the medication, date, dosage, and the name of the student who is to receive it. Parents must also provide written permission for students to receive medication at school. The necessary forms for medication administration are located on the school website and in the Health Center. Whenever possible, the schedule of medication administration should allow a student to receive all prescribed doses at home.
Parents must supply all medications and necessary equipment and are responsible for the removal of the medication from school at the end of the school year. No child with a potentially life-threatening illness will be allowed to attend school without providing the school with unexpired emergency medication including but not limited to, Epipens, glucagon tablets, and asthma inhalers. Medication will be administered by the School Nurse or a trained designee.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Students entering M.S.A.D. No. 75 must have written proof of completed immunizations as required prior to school enrollment. It is the responsibility of the parents to produce this proof of immunization.
If you have questions regarding Health Center services or policies, please contact the School Nurse at 729-2950 ext. 7307.