Health

In case of illness or injury, school personnel will care for a student temporarily. As authorized on the student emergency information form, if emergency care is needed, the school will act on the parent/guardian’s behalf to make arrangements for emergency care and transportation (i.e., ambulance if necessary). It should be understood that the school district assumes no responsibility and is not liable for the costs of such transportation or medical care.

Remember, an emergency telephone number where parents can be reached and the name and telephone number of the student’s family doctor must be on file at the school and must be kept current. Please report any changes to the school office immediately.

If an illness or injury occurs, every effort will be made to notify parents immediately. If a parent/guardian cannot be reached, the adult listed on the emergency form will be contacted. In the event that neither the home nor emergency number can be reached, the student will receive appropriate first aid and be allowed to rest until the parent/guardian can be located. Each school has a health clerk who is available each school day and has the services of registered nurses who are available within the district on a full-time basis. The health clerks have first aid training and are able to care for minor health problems or emergencies.

Students who experience vomiting or a fever of 100.4ºF or more will be required to go home for the duration of the day and may not return until fever free for 24 hours without use of fever reducing medication. Please contact your child’s school with any questions.

If it is necessary for a child to stay inside for health reasons, a doctor’s excuse is required. A note from the parent or guardian following an illness will also be accepted. If the child does not have a note, they will go out for recess and other outdoor activities.

In accordance with state law and Board Policy 7:270, Administering Medicines to Students, students should not take medication during school hours or during school related activities unless it is necessary for a student’s health and well-being. When a student’s licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe that it is necessary for the student to take a medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/ guardian must request that the school dispense the medication to the child and otherwise follow the district’s procedures on dispensing medication.

No school district employee shall administer to any student, or supervise a student’s self-administration of, any prescription or non-prescription medication until a completed and signed School Medication Authorization Form is submitted by the student’s parent/guardian. No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription medication on school grounds or at a school-related function other than as provided for in Board Policy 7:270, Administering Medicines to Students, and its implementing procedures.

Nothing in the district’s policies shall prohibit any school employee from providing emergency assistance to students, including administering medication. Please refer to Board Policy 7:270, Administering Medicines to Students, for additional information.

 

A student may possess and self-administer an epinephrine injector and/or asthma medication prescribed for use at the student’s discretion, provided the student’s parent/guardian has completed and signed a “Self-Medication Authorization” and “Parental/Guardian Authorization for the Administration of Medication in School,” and the District has been given necessary prescription information.

A student may self-administer medication required under the student’s qualifying plan, provided the student’s parent/ guardian has completed and signed a “Self-Medication Authorization” and “Parental/Guardian Authorization for the Administration of Medication in School,” and the District has been given necessary prescription information. A qualifying plan may include an asthma action plan, Individual Health Care Action Plan, Illinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization Form, plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or plan pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The district shall incur no liability, except for willful and wanton conduct, as a result of any injury arising from a student’s self-administration of medication, including asthma medication or epinephrine injectors, or medication required under a qualifying plan. A student’s parent/guardian must indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees and agents, against any claims, except a claim based on willful and wanton conduct, arising out of a student’s self-administration of an epinephrine injector, asthma medication, and/or a medication required under a qualifying plan. Refer to Board Policy 7:270, Administering Medicines to Students, for additional information.

If you suspect your child may have sustained a concussion, please contact your school’s office who will provide you with a resource brochure. Additional information about concussions can be found in this section of the Student Handbook and in Board Policy 7:305, Student Concussions and Head Injuries.

In accordance with state law and Board Policy 7:305, Student Concussions and Head Injuries, a student may not participate in an interscholastic or intramural athletic activity for a school year until the student and the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student have signed an

Agreement to Participate. A student athlete who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion will be immediately removed from interscholastic participation or competition and will also be removed from intramural athletic activities and from the physical activity portion of the physical education course in which the student is enrolled. A student who has been removed from an interscholastic contest, intramural athletics, or physical education may not return to play until the following conditions are met:

1. The student has been evaluated, using established medical protocols based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence consistent with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, by a treating physician (chosen by the student or the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student) an athletic trainer, a physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse;

2. The student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-play protocol established by the district’s concussion oversight team;

3.  The student has successfully completed each requirement of the return-to-learn protocol established by the district’s oversight team;

4.  The treating physician, athletic trainer, physician assistant, or advanced practiced registered nurse has provided a written statement indicating that, in the physician’s professional judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play and return to learn; and

5.  The student and the student’s parent or guardian or another person with legal authority to make medical decisions for the student:

a.  Have acknowledged that the student has completed the requirements of the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols necessary for the student to return to play;

b.  Have provided the treating physician’s, athletic trainer’s, physician assistant’s, or registered nurse’s written statement indicating that, in the physician’s professional judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play and return to learn to the person appointed by the Superintendent as responsible for implementing and complying with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols adopted by the district’s concussion oversight team; and

c. Have signed a consent form indicating that:

i. They have been informed concerning and consent to the student participating in returning to play in accordance with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols;

ii.  They understand the risks associated with returning to play and returning to learn and will comply with any ongoing requirements in the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols; and

iii.  They consent to the disclosure to appropriate persons, consistent with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, of the treating physician’s, athletic trainer’s, physician assistant’s, or advance practice registered nurse’s written statement indicating that, in the physician’s professional judgment, it is safe for the student to return to play and return to learn to the person appointed by the Superintendent as responsible for implementing and complying with the return-to-play and return-to-learn protocols adopted by the district’s concussion oversight team and, if any, the return-toplay and return-to-learn recommendations of the treating physician, the athletic trainer, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse as the case may be.

 

For additional specific information on exemptions from physical activity, refer to Board Policy 7:260, Exemption from Physical Activity.

Students who are absent or anticipated to be absent from school for a minimum of 10 school days during the school year due to a medical condition, as certified by a physician licensed to practice medicine in all of its branches, a licensed physician assistant, or a licensed

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, are eligible to receive home/hospital instruction pursuant to the Illinois School Code. Please contact your child’s building principal to make arrangements for home/hospital instruction.

Please refer to Board Policy 6:150, Home and Hospital Instruction, for additional information.