Oyster River Cooperative School District Health Services Staff:
Health Services Policy JLC
Welcome to the ORCSD Health Office Website
The school nurse is on duty during school hours. School nurses are available to the students who become ill or injured during school
hours and to parents with questions regarding their children and/or
school health policies. We welcome and encourage calls to update us
regarding your child’s health concerns and needs.
School health services include administering
medication, assessment of acute problems and chronic problems, vision
and hearing screening, height and weight measures and the monitoring of
immunizations to keep children in compliance with state
regulations. Children are required upon entrance to school to have
up-to-date immunizations and a physical exam (within the past year) per
the State of New Hampshire. Physical exams are required upon entrance to
kindergarten (or first year in our district), 5th Grade and 9th Grade.
If your child participates in sports during high school they are
required to have a physical again upon entrance to 11th Grade. Below
please find several health practices in place to keep the students
healthy, and ready to learn.
ILLNESS POLICY
To ensure a healthy environment we will dismiss
all ill students who compromise their own health or the health of the
school population to their parents or guardians. Students who have
had diarrhea, vomiting, and/or a temperature over l00 degrees should be
kept home until free from symptoms, without the aid of medication, for
not less than 24 hours. A child with a bacterial infection that can be
spread to other children (strep throat, impetigo, etc.) must be on an
antibiotic for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
MEDICATION POLICY
The State of New Hampshire dictates that all
medication, both over-the-counter and prescription, be administered
through the health office. All medication must be brought to the school
by a parent in the original container, clearly marked with the
student's name and dosage. Laws regarding dispensing medications are
strict:
Over-the-Counter Medication
Parent must sign a school form allowing the nurse to dispense the medication. Click Here for Parent's Request/Permission to Administer Medication school form.
Prescription Medication
Parent must sign the Parent's Request/Permission
to Administer Medication form, and the medication must be in a
prescription bottle. A note written by your child's doctor which
includes date, name of medication, diagnosis, directions, duration of
administration, and possible side effects must accompany the
prescription. A form is available on line for this purpose (click here
for Physician Medication Order). Ask
the pharmacy to divide the medication into two bottles, one for home
and one for school. Chronic illnesses and allergies should be made known
to the school nurse. Medication prescribed by the physician for these
conditions should be supplied to the school as outlined above.
IMMUNIZATIONS
The State of NH requires that we adhere to the
immunization requirements that they establish. Please keep us updated
when your child receives an immunization or has any other significant
health concern possibly requiring medication or hospitalization so that
we may work together with other school staff to meet your child’s health
and educational goals. https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/documents/schools18-19.pdf
FOOD ALLERGIES
Serious food allergies in children are becoming
more common. Just traces of certain foods can cause life threatening
reactions in susceptible people. Peanuts are the most common but are not
the only offender. We are not a peanut-free school so please make sure
your child understands they are not to trade foods with other children.
What is okay for them may be life threatening to another child. Explain
that there is no eating on the bus. Some children can react if they
just come in contact with certain foods. Washing hands frequently
removes trace foods that can be spread unknowingly resulting in
reactions. Please do not send in food/treats for the whole
class unless specifically asked for by the classroom teacher. This is
for the protection of all children.
HEAD LICE
Head lice are a common problem in elementary
schools. Please call if your child has been found to have head lice so
that treatment can be reviewed with you. If your child is found to have
head lice at school, you will be notified and asked to treat your child
that night. Treatment must occur before they return to school the next
day.
Head Lice Fact Sheet
DISTRICT FORMS:
PARENT'S REQUEST/PERMISSION TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
PHYSICIAN MEDICATION ORDER
EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE PLAN
PHYSICAL FORM