Health Concerns

Student Emergency Card

On the first day of your child's school year, you received two emergency cards. These cards must be completed immediately and returned to the school. If your child becomes ill or is involved in an accident at school, we will contact you using information from the Student Emergency Card. It is important that you list three individuals to call in case of an emergency, at least one of those individuals should be within walking distance of school in case of an earthquake. It is your responsibility to keep the emergency card current at all times, including changes of phone numbers.

Our school has a health assistant during all school hours. Our district nurse, Ms. Judi Zimmerman, is always on call for emergencies. If your child becomes ill or if we detect a change in your child's health, our health assistant or another staff member will notify you. We may ask you to follow up with a doctor's exam to determine if there is a problem.

When To Keep Your Child At Home

It is often difficult for parents to know whether their children are too sick to attend school. For their well-being as well as for their classmates, please keep them home when they are sick. The following are some general guidelines:

• Vomiting and Diarrhea
• Fever, measured orally of 100o F or above; student must be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Severe Cold Symptoms, constant cough, sneezing or nasal drainage
• Flu, fever accompanied by body aches and headache
• Rashes of unknown origin require a physician’s note indicating the diagnosis and releasing your child to return to school.
• Conjunctivitis (pinkeye) and Strep Throat: Student may return to school after 24 hours or more of physician prescribed medication.

This list is not comprehensive and any time your student is not well it is advised that you keep them home for observation. Please keep in mind that these guidelines are to protect all students and staff members and when your child displays the above symptoms they will be sent home from school. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Pennekamp health office.

Taking Medicine at School

The California Education Code 49423 requires that if medication is to be taken by a child while he is in school then the school must have:

1. A signed order from the physician authorizing us to give the medication medication to the child, detailing the method, amount and time schedules by which such medication is to be administered. This includes over-the-counter medications such as aspirin, cough syrups, anti-histamines, Tylenol, etc.
2. A signed consent from from the parent or guardian.
3. The medication in the original prescription container, clearly labeled with the following:
   1. Child’s full name
   2. Physician’s name and phone number
   3. Dosage, schedule, and dose form
   4. Date of expiration of prescription

This applies to any medication to be taken for one or more days. The medication should be kept in the school health office. It is the child’s responsibility to come for it at the proper time.

If your child is on continuing medication at home, please inform the health office.

Injuries

If your student sustains an injury that requires he/she wear a brace or cast, please provide the health office with a physician’s note indicating any restrictions that may apply while he/she is at school (i.e. P.E. excuse).