Health Services

School Board Policy - FFACA

Students will on occasion need to take medications at school. Medication will be given only as authorized according to state law and district policy, regulations, guidelines and procedures. 

Self-Administered Medications

Certain medications such as asthma inhalers may be self administered by students. 

• Inhalers may be kept with a student at all times and self-administered as the student deems necessary with written authorization by the parent/guardian AND physician.

• Medications used to treat anaphylaxis and diabetes may also be self administered, with appropriate written authorization. 

• Any unauthorized medication found at school will be confiscated and the parent/guardian notified.

Staff-Administered Medications

Most medication, including herbal/homeopathic medications, can only be given by authorized school staff: school nurse, principal, designated employee or a contracted nurse. 

• Injected medication requires a medical monitoring plan, a physician’s written authorization and a parent's/guardian’s written permission. 

• Medication will only be administered with a completed Medication Authorization form.

• A new medication authorization form must be filled out for each medication at the beginning of the school year, when there is a medication change, and when there is a dosage change. 

• All administered doses will be recorded by a designated employee on the back of the Medication Authorization form.

• The school nurse will decide whether or not a one-time medication dose will be administered. 

• Medication sent or brought to school in improper containers, improperly labeled, or not labeled will NOT be given even if the parent/guardian gives verbal or written authorization. 

• If a student states they forgot to take their medication before coming to school, medication will only be given if the parent/guardian is contacted and verbal authorization is given. 

• All medication must be brought to the school by the parent/guardian. 

• Directions for administering medication must include specific times or conditions. 

• Expiration dates of medication will be tracked

• Medication from a foreign country will not be given.

• Medications that require refrigeration will be kept in locked refrigerators. 

• All medication taken on field trips will be carried in a locked container.  

• If a medication error occurs, an accident report form will be filled out. 

• If a student refuses to take medication, the event will be recorded and the parent/guardian will be notified.  

• All medication must be picked up by parents at the end of the school year. Unclaimed medicine will be disposed of.

• All medication issues are considered confidential.

Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision for parents to make. When trying to decide, use the guidelines below and seek the advice of your health care provider. Keep your child home if they have any of the following:

• Fever above 100 degrees: Your child should be fever free, and off of all fever reducing medication for 24 hours before he or she returns to school. Students returning to school before they are well are more susceptible to illness and may expose others. Please do not give your student medication to treat a fever and then send him or her to school.
• Sore Throat/Tonsillitis: A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be a symptom of a more serious illness. Keep your child home from school and contact your health care provider. If your child is diagnosed with strep throat, he or she may return to school 48 hours after antibiotic treatment begins, or with written permission from the physician.
• Spots/Rash: Any skin rash of unknown cause may be contagious and may require medical treatment, especially with fever and/or itching. A physician should be consulted for a diagnosis. You may be asked to present a medical diagnosis from your physician stating that the rash is not contagious (or no longer contagious).
• Bad Cough/Cold Symptoms: Children with bad coughs/colds need to stay home, and possibly see their health care provider. When the cough improves and the child is feeling better they may return to school. 
• Eye Inflammation or Discharge: If your child’s eye is red with a cloudy or yellow/green drainage; has matted eyelids after sleep; or eye pain and/or redness, you should keep your child home, and contact your child's health care provider. If your child is diagnosed with pink eye, he or she may return to school 24 hours after treatment has begun.
• Vomiting and/or Diarrhea: Your child should stay home from school until 24 hours after the last episode.
• Lice: Student must be treated with a special preparation for killing head lice (available over-thecounter) and progress made on removing all of the nits. Student may return to school when they are cleared by the school nurse, health room assistant, or other designated staff member. SPS Health Services can also provide families with lice treatment as needed. Children with nits can be at school, as long as nits are not within ¼ “of the scalp.
• Acute Pain: Student’s that require narcotic medication for pain relief should not attend school.

In addition:

• Remember to call the school every day that your child will be absent.
• Make sure the school has your current contact information in case your child was to become ill or injured at school.
• Have a plan in place for childcare issues for when your child is ill.
• If your child has a communicable disease, please notify the school.
• In some instances it will be necessary for your physician to provide the school with a medical release before your child may return to school.
• Medications should be given at home if at all possible. If a medication is required during school hours