Physical Health

Role of the Health Room Staff

All schools have a Health Room staff person who carries out health-related duties during the day.  Other staff members help fill this role in their absence.  The Health Services Department provides oversight of Health Room staff and other unlicensed school personnel who are trained to respond to the immediate health needs of students.  Typically, Health Room staff and other staff members are not medical professionals but all have First Aid/CPR and AED training. 

Please contact your school nurse or health room if you have questions or if your student has health needs.  You can also visit the BVSD Health Services page for information about immunizations, medications, health forms and other district health policies.

Physical Health Topics

When to keep your child home from school

There are three main reasons to keep a child home from school.

  1. The child doesn't feel well enough to take part in normal activities, (such as; overly tired, fussy or won't stop crying). 
  2. The child needs more care than teachers and staff can give and still care of the other children.
  3. The illness is on this list and staying home is recommended.

And remember, the best way to prevent the spread of infection is through good hand washing.

 

 

  Symptoms 

            Child Kept out of School
DIARRHEA Frequent, loose or watery stools compared to child's normal ones that are not caused by food or medicine YES-If child looks or acts sick: if child has diarrhea with fever and isn't acting normally; if child has diarrhea with vomiting. May need medical provider advice.
FEVER /FEVER W/FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS 100.5 or above with behavior change or other illness. Fever over 100.5 F with a cough or sore throat. Other flu symptoms can include tiredness, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea YES-When the child also has a rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, behavior changes, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, etc. Consult Primary Care Provider (PCP)  for advice or concerns.   Must be home at least 24 hours after fever is gone without the use of medicine that reduces the fever.

MILD RESPIRATORY OR COLD SYMPTOMS 

Stuffy nose with clear drainage, sneezing, mild cough

NO- Exclusion is not necessary, unless the child is displaying severe symptoms like fever accompanied by behavior change, or difficulty breathing. May need to contact PCP.

SEVERE COUGHING

 

YES-If severe, medical advice should be sought for uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, rapid or difficult breathing.
VOMITING Throwing up 2 or more times in the past 24 hours or in association with other symptoms YES- Until vomiting stops or PCP says it is not contagious.
CONJUNCTIVITIS (PINK EYE) Pink color of eye and thick yellow/green discharge NO-(bacterial or viral) Children don't need to stay home unless the child has a fever, behavioral changes, or unable to avoid rubbing eyes. Call the PCP for advice and may discuss possible treatment.

HEAD LICE

 

YES-From end of the school day until after the first treatment (exception pre-K, send home right away).
STREP THROAT YES-For 24 hours after starting antibiotics and 24 hours without a fever and the child is able to take part in usual activities.
CHICKEN POX YES-Until there are no new lesions and all existing lesions have scabbed over.
IMPETIGO YES-For 24 Hours after starting antibiotics.
OPEN SORES ON SKIN NO-Skin Lesions must be covered by a bandage or clothing during the school day.

HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (Coxsackie virus)

 

NO-Unless the child has mouth sores, is drooling and isn't able to take part in usual activities.
RASH WITH FEVER Note: Body rash without fever or behavior changes usually does not need to stay home from school, call the PCP YES-Call the PCP. Any rash that spreads quickly, has open, weeping wounds and/or is not healing should be discussed with Primary Care Provider.
VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES Measles, Mumps, Rubella, (German Measles), Pertussis (Whooping Cough YES-Until the PCP says the child is no longer contagious.

 

Adapted from Children's Hospital of Colorado materials and CDPHE "Infectious Disease Guidelines in Child Care and School Settings", December 2016

Meet our Health Room Staff

Sarah Yannett

Health Para

Resources

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