Nurse's Office

School Health Program

Mandated by Pennsylvania Law
Pennsylvania Public School Code Article 14

1) Immunizations

Students who are original enterers in Kindergarten or Grade 1 (original entry means the student was not enrolled in school previously) need:

1 dose diphtheria/tetanus given after 4 years of age

3 doses Hepatitis B given at recommended intervals

1 dose Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox) given after the age of 1 year or written proof of varicella or chicken pox disease

Students entering grade 7 need:

3 doses Hepatitis B given at recommended intervals

Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox): 1 dose for students under the age of 12, 2 doses for students age 13 or older, or written proof of the varicella or chicken pox disease.

In addition to the above requirements, the Pennsylvania Department of Health requires the following minimum requirements for ALL students grades K through 12:

3 doses diphtheria/tetanus

3 doses polio (oral or injectable)

2 doses measles with the first dose given after 1 year of age

1 dose rubella vaccine given after 1 year of age

1 dose mumps vaccine given after 1 year of age

Only 2 exemptions are allowed: either a medical exemption with a written doctor’s statement or a religious/moral exemption. (for medical or religious/moral exemptions please contact your child’s school nurse.)

No child will be admitted to school without providing the appropriate immunization information to the school nurse. Pennsylvania law states a child must have at least one dose of each of the required vaccines in order to attend school on a provisional basis.

2) Physical Examinations
The PA school code requires physical examinations for grades K, 6, 11, or upon original entry in Pennsylvania schools. The physical examinations may be obtained from your private physician up to 1 year prior to the student starting the grade. If there are financial hardships or special situations, the school physical examination can be completed by the school physician with written permission.

Please keep the school nurse informed of medical problems and limitations of activities as they occur throughout your child’s school life. The school nurse can help modify a student’s activities if needed.

3) Dental Examinations

The PA school code requires dental examinations in grades K, 3, 7, and all transfer students out of state.

4) Hearing Screenings

All students in grades K, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, and students in special education will have a hearing test given by the school nurse. Students will also be screened on an as needed basis.

5) Vision Screenings

Vision screening testing visual acuity shall be conducted yearly on every child, grades K through 12. Additional tests are conducted at certain grade levels and may include tests for near vision, amblyopia, color perception, and stereopsis. Students will also be screened on an as needed basis.

6) Height and Weight Screenings
Your child’s height, weight, and BMI percentile is completed yearly in grades K through 12.

7) Scoliosis Screenings

Scoliosis screening is mandated in grades 6 and 7.

If deviations from normal are detected during any screening, the student will be referred to his/her private physician for further evaluation and possible treatment. Referral forms for the appropriate screening will be either mailed to you or sent home with the student. Please have your physician complete the form, and return it to the Nurse’s Office at your earliest convenience.

The goal of these routine screenings is to help detect problems that could affect your child’s ability to learn or threaten optimum health. Good health is required for optimal learning. The school nurse assists students in attaining a high level of wellness.

Having regular (at least yearly) visits to your family doctor and dentist are an important part of maintaining your child’s health. Family physicians and dentists are familiar with your child and thus are better able to detect physical/dental changes. Your physician/dentist is able to begin immediate treatment if indicated and can follow through with needed care and immunization boosters.

Emergency Forms

Every student MUST have an emergency form filed in the Health Office. To keep information current, emergency forms are issued to all students each school year. Please contact you child’s school nurse in the event that any of the information changes throughout the year. CORRECT information provided on this form is vital especially in an emergency situation. PLEASE FILL OUT THE EMERGENCY FORM COMPLETELY!!! It is imperative that the following information be provided:

Phone Numbers where parents/guardians can be reached at home, at work, or even when out running errands. Please include all cell phone and/or beeper numbers when available. Please update this information as necessary.

Emergency Contacts: Please provide names and phone numbers of persons who are WILLING and ABLE to transport, care for, and assume responsibility for your child in case of illness or injury. This is a serious undertaking and should be arranged by mutual consent. Please be sure that the designated persons are LOCAL AND AVAILABLE during the school day.

Medical Conditions: Please provide information regarding medical conditions/chronic illness/diseases, all medications taken (at home and at school), all allergies, including medications, insect stings, foods, and environment. In an emergency situation, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THIS INFORMATION BE COMPLETE, DETAILED, AND ACCURATE. If 911 needs to be called, a copy of this information will be sent to the hospital with the EMS personnel.

Parent/Guardian Signatures: The parent/guardian’s signature is required on the emergency form. This signature on the emergency form allows emergency personnel to transport your child to the nearest medical facility in the event of an emergency and you or an emergency contact cannot be reached.

Medication Policy

It is recommended that prescription and nonprescription medicines be administered at home whenever possible.

Please remember that no medications of any kind, prescription or over the counter medications can be dispensed or given to your child at school without a written permission slip (see your school nurse) from a physician. Please remember it is your responsibility to ask your physician for a completed form or take the school form with you. A parent/guardian must also sign the permission form.

Inhalers are kept in the nurse’s office. If a child needs to carry an inhaler with him/her at all times, the physician needs to specify that on the order. If a child is going to carry an inhaler, the parent needs to make sure the inhaler is brought to school daily and not forgotten.

Any/all approved medications brought to school must:

1) Be in a sturdy container

2) Be clearly marked with your child’s name, time, and amount of dosage

3) Include your physician’s name and name of prescribed medicine

A new form must be submitted to the school nurse each time there is a change in medication, dosage, or time of administration. A new order is required for each school year. Parents must deliver the medication to school (no medications should be brought on the bus with the students). Students are never to keep medications of any kind (this includes cough drops, Tylenol, or cold medicine) on them or in any of their belongings (except inhalers ordered by the physician to be carried with them).

Parent Responsibility
Health room facilities cannot provide for the care of the sick or injured child all day. Sick or injured children need, want and should have their parents, if possible. Working parents should be prepared to leave work to care for their children or have arrangements made for someone to care for them at home.

Parents or guardians will be contacted to provide or arrange for transportation home. In the event of severe illness or injury, an ambulance will be called to transport the student to the appropriate hospital. The ambulance fee is the responsibility of the parent or guardian and is usually covered by medical insurance.