About Health Services

A sick student cannot learn effectively and is unable to participate in classes in a meaningful way. Keeping a sick student at home allows the student the opportunity to rest, recover and prevent the spread of illness in the school community.

If your child becomes ill at school, we will call you for pick up. It is essential that we have a phone number where you are contactable during the day and an emergency number in the event we cannot reach you. Families can update contact information and emergency contacts in Skyward Family Access.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children stay home from school when they have:

• Symptoms of COVID-19 – such as: a new loss of taste and/or smell, shortness of breath, muscle aches/pain, fatigue, headache, cough, fever, or chills.
• Fever of 100.4°F – keep your child home until they are fever-free, and have not received fever-reducing medication within the last 24 hours
• Two or more episodes of diarrhea and/or one or more episodes of vomiting within the last 24 hours
• Uncontrolled cough
• Mucus/sputum that is green or yellow and cannot be contained – some young children can’t blow their nose and wash their hands effectively, increasing the chance of spreading infection to others
• Strep-Throat – your child may return to school 24 hours after the start of antibiotics. If medication is needed at school, then you and your child’s health care provider should complete and sign a Medication at School Form. Hand the form to the nurse, together with the medication that is labeled (pharmacy label affixed for prescription medications) and in the original packaging
• Earache – consult your child’s health care provider – left untreated, an ear infection may adversely affect hearing
• Head Lice, Ringworm, Scabies – may return to school after initial treatment, just alert your school nurse
• Rash – especially with fever or itching. A child with a suspicious rash should return to school only after a healthcare provider has made a diagnosis and authorized the child’s return to school
• An open wound that is draining and/or not able to be covered
• Injury/Surgery – if students have sustained an injury and/or had a recent surgical procedure then they should stay at home, especially if they have pain and/or taking medications for pain relief. Please have your child’s healthcare provider contact the school nurse with treatment orders/care instructions to help your child safely return to school; this is especially important if your child has had a head injury. Letting the school nurse know in advance of any planned surgery, and need for medications, will be very helpful to ensure that your child will be safe and comfortable at school during the initial postoperative phase of their recovery.

Contact your healthcare provider if your child is experiencing any other symptoms that are concerning to you and let the school nurse know of any treatment plans.

General Hygiene Principles

The following are reminders of some general hygiene principles for your child:

• Encourage your child to use a tissue to wipe a runny nose, discard it in the trash and immediately wash their hands with warm water and soap, or use a hand sanitizer
• Encourage your child to Cover a Cough or Sneeze with the bend in the inner arm/elbow, and not into their hands
• Encourage your child to wash their hands with warm water and soap each time after using the bathroom, before and after eating snacks/lunch, and frequently throughout the day

Washington State Law (RCW 28A.210.320) requires that students with a Life-Threatening Health Condition have treatment orders from a Licensed Healthcare Provider, supporting medications and supplies, and a Health Care Plan in place at school before they can attend.

Here are some common conditions. Please contact your school nurse to begin your student’s 504 Health Care Plan.

Asthma

Please contact your school nurse ASAP. (See Health Room Staff on this page.)

Washington State Law requires that students with a Life-Threatening Health Condition, including Diabetes, have treatment orders from a Licensed Healthcare Provider, supporting medications and supplies, and a Health Care Plan in place at school before they can attend.

Provide the school nurse with

• Asthma Action Plan completed by Health Care Provider and parent.
• Rescue Inhaler and spacer to be stored in the health room or carried by the student.

If the student “self-carries”, they will need to be checked-off by their School Nurse. Please make arrangements with the school nurse to drop inhalers and other asthma medication in the health room prior to attending school.

All medications are required

Daily Medication (antihistamine, steroid inhaler, nebulizer treatment, etc.) should be taken at home whenever possible. We recommend having a “Three-Day Disaster Supply” of daily medications at school to be administered in case of lock-down.

Please touch base with your School Nurse about overnight field trips / athletic trips / camps. Complete the Medication at School form for any additional medications not listed on the Asthma Action Plan.

All medications must

• Be in their original pharmacy labeled container.
• Match the order.

Diabetes

Please contact your School Nurse ASAP. (See Health Room Staff on this page.)

The School Nurse will create a Health Plan specific for your student based on information you provide. This plan outlines what action staff must take to support your student’s diabetes management. It is distributed to staff that work with your student. Washington State Law requires that students with a Life-Threatening Health Condition, including Diabetes, have treatment orders from a Licensed Healthcare Provider, supporting medications and supplies, and a Health Care Plan in place at school before they can attend.

Provide the school nurse with

• Medical history: Use this Diabetes Care Information Form
• Release of information: Allows the School Nurse to communicate directly with your student’s healthcare provider.
• Orders: Ask your student’s endocrinologist to provide a Diabetes Care Plan for the school. It will have orders in it and needs to be signed by a Parent/Guardian. Even if your student is completely self-sufficient in their diabetic care, they still need orders at school.
• Medications: Insulin & Glucagon
• Supplies: Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) supplies (ie: glucose tablets, juice, carbohydrate/protein snack, etc.); insulin administration equipment (ie: pen, needles, alcohol wipes, pump, lancing device and lancets, test strips); glucometer with back-up batteries; ketone strips.

Some families plan for their student to carry their supplies and medications with them. If this is the case for your student, the School Nurse will check with them to make sure they have everything.

All medications must

• Be in their original pharmacy labeled container.
• Match the order.
• Not be expired.

Life-Threatening Allergies

Please contact your school nurse ASAP. (See Health Room Staff on this page.)

Washington State Law requires that students with a Life-Threatening Health Condition, including Diabetes, have treatment orders from a Licensed Healthcare Provider, supporting medications and supplies, and a Health Care Plan in place at school before they can attend.

Provide the school nurse with

BISD Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan completed by Health Care Provider and parent. Emergency Epinephrine Auto-Injector and additional medications (antihistamine, inhaler, etc. as stated on the emergency plan) to be stored in the health room. If the student “self-carries”, they will need to be checked-off by their School Nurse. Please make arrangements with the school nurse to drop medications in the health room prior to attending school.

Special events/non-routine days are the greatest risk for a life-threatening allergic reaction to occur. Classroom parties, field trips, a substitute teacher, and after-school events are examples. Be aware of when your child’s normal routine is changed and have “acceptable” snacks readily available for those special occasions.

All medications are required

• To be in their original pharmacy labeled container
• To match the Licensed Healthcare Provider’s order
• Not be expired

Seizure Disorder

Please get in touch with your school nurse ASAP. (See Health Room Staff on this page.)

The School Nurse will create a Health Plan specific for your child based on the information you provide. This plan outlines what action staff must take in case of seizure activity in school. It is distributed to staff that work with your student. If the plan includes giving medication, delegated staff will be trained by the School Nurse as appropriate.

Washington State Law requires that students with a Life-Threatening Health Condition, which may include seizure disorder, have treatment orders from a Licensed Healthcare Provider, supporting medication, and a Health Plan in place at school before they can attend.

Provide the school nurse with

• Relevant medical history: Please complete the Seizure Health Information Form.
• Release of information: Allows the School Nurse to communicate directly with your student’s healthcare provider.
• Medication & orders: Emergency Anticonvulsants can be stored and administered in school. Some healthcare providers give parents/guardians a “School Care Plan” that includes orders for medications. Please sign this to authorize the order.
• Licensed Healthcare Providers can also order an emergency anticonvulsant using the Seizure Medication Orders form. Please sign this to authorize the order.

All medications must

• Be in their original pharmacy labeled container.
• Match the order.
• Not be expired.

All school buildings are in compliance with state board of health rules and regulations regarding the presence of persons who have been exposed to infectious diseases deemed dangerous to public health. A student is required to present evidence of their having been immunized in accordance with the Washington State Department of Health Required Immunizations. A student who has been diagnosed by a physician or is suspected of having an infectious disease may be excluded from the classroom or referred for medical attention. The district provides training to all employees regarding HIV/AIDS and has an Infection Control Program procedure.

Find a broad range of information in the Infectious Disease Control Guide for School Staff from the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and Department of Health.

• Kitsap Public Health – Communicable Disease
• Washington State Department of Health Infectious Disease Control (PDF)
• BISD Guidance on Head Lice

Medication is defined to mean all drugs, whether prescription or “over-the-counter”. It is the policy of the Bainbridge Island School District not to give medicine to students at school, except at the request of the parent and a licensed practitioner with prescriptive authority. If it is necessary to take medication during the school day, these procedures are to be followed:

1. Parents will sign the Medication at School form.
2. Parents will have the form completed by their healthcare provider.
3. Parents will bring in the completed form and the medication in the original container to the office. Please bring only the required number of doses to the school and keep the remainder of medication at home.
4. Students are not allowed to transport the medication (unless the medication is an inhaler).

BISD School Board Policy #3416 and Procedure #P3416 outline the district’s policy regarding Medication at School.