1.Health Examinations
a. Periodic Health Examinations
A health certificate shall be furnished by each student upon his/her entrance to school and by each child entering the first, third, seventh and tenth grades. Children in these grades not examined by their private physician will be examined by the district’s school physician(s). In addition, an examination of any child may be required by local school authorities at any time in order to promote educational interests of such child.
b. Visual and Hearing Screenings
Annual vision screenings are mandated for all students, grades K-12. Hearing screenings are required for grades K-7 and 10th.
c. Athletic Physical Examinations
Students participating in interscholastic athletic activities shall be provided adequate health examinations before participation in strenuous activity. No student may be permitted to participate in such activity without the approval of the school physician(s) or student’s physician.
d. Scioliosis Screenings
Scoliosis screenings are mandated for ages 8-16 years.
2. Mandated Immunizations
a. Requirements for School Entrance
As a requirement for entrance to school, the person in parental relationship to the child must furnish, within thirty days of the date of registration, a written statement by a physician indicating that the child has received immunization against those communicable diseases set forth by New York State Public Health Law (poliomyelitis, mumps, measles, diphtheria, rubella, and where applicable, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) (Public Health Law 2164).
b. All children enrolled in the seventh grade in any public, private or parochial school on or after September 1, 2000 must be immunized with three doses of hepatitis B vaccine.
c. Exceptions
Students may be exempt from compliance to this policy if appropriate school officials are in receipt of
- a physician’s statement to the effect that immunization against one or more of the diseases would be detrimental to the child’s health; or
- a written statement subscribed and affirmed as true by a person in parental relationship that the person in parental relationship holds genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to required immunization practices.
3. Emergency Procedures
The health services staff, in cooperation with the district’s administrative staff, shall prepare, review and keep current the procedures for dealing with emergency health situations which may arise on school district property.
4. Administration of Internal Medication to Students
In such cases where students are able to attend and receive normal classroom instruction but suffer from conditions which may require administration of medication during school hours, such internal medication may be administered by the school health personnel, or another member of the school staff* who has been properly instructed, so long as the following conditions are satisfied.
a. an annual written request from the family physician be on file in the school indicating the medication, its frequency and dosage, observable symptoms indicating an emergency and the duration of the order;
b. an annual written request be on file in the school from the person in parental relationship to the child requesting the administration of the medication as specified by the family physician;
c. an adequate supply of medication, syringes and needles be delivered directly to the school health personnel by the person in parental relationship to the child;
d. the medication be kept in the health office, in a locked drawer or file completely separated from any supplies used for emergency care; and
e. a periodic evaluation of procedures be made regarding the administration of medications in general and a periodic evaluation be made of the specific procedure for each individual student receiving medication.
*Medications may be given by personnel other than RN only if student is self-directed.
5. Students who are asthmatic or have allergic reactions may self-administer medication (inhalers or Epipens), so long as the following conditions are satisfied:
a. Severity of health care problems, particularly asthmatic or allergic conditions are verified.
b. Prescriber’s order directing that the student be allowed to carry his/her medication and self-administer.
c. Parent statement requesting compliance with prescriber’s order.
d. Student has been instructed in the procedure of self-administration and can assume responsibility for carrying properly labeled medication in original container on his or her person.
e. School nursing assessment that student has ability to carry and self-administer his/her medication properly.
f. Parent contact made to clarify parental responsibility regarding the monitoring of the child on an ongoing/daily basis to insure that the child is carrying and taking the medication as ordered. This contact should be documented by school nurse.
Any student self-administering medication without proper authorization should be counseled by school nursing personnel. In addition, parents should be notified. School administration should also be notified.
Cross-ref:
5191, Students and Employees with HIV-Related Illness
8123.1, Contagious Disease
Ref:
Education Law §§901 et. Seq.
Public Health Law §§680; 2164 (Delineates immunizations mandated for school entrance)
8NYCRR Part 136
The Provision of Nursing Tasks and Health-Related Activities in the School Setting for Students with Special Health Care Needs, State Education Department, March 1995
Note: Prior policy, Health Services 5141(a), (b)
Policy Adopted: May 13, 1974
Amended: August 25, 1997
Amended: April 24, 2000