Please, Keep Sick Kids Home
by Angie Baker, School Nurse
February 26, 2010
Keeping Sick Kids Home
by Angie Baker, LPN ~ School Nurse
As a parent it can be tough at times to know when to send your child to school and when he or she should stay home. With the economy the way it is and other circumstances, I realize that it is hard to take time off work to care for a sick child, but by sending a child back to school before he is ready can both expose other children and make your child very uncomfortable. It is not unusual to have kids come off the bus first thing in the morning feeling ill or stating “My mom/dad wanted me to try to ‘tough it out.’” I have seen parents give their children Tylenol or Motrin to try to mask symptoms or fever. If you know your child is ill and give him medication, he is still contagious to both staff and other children in the school. If a child comes to school ill or becomes ill at school, he will be sent home. Please make sure that we have all of your contact information so that we can get ahold of you in a timely matter. It is also nice to have a second plan in case the parents are unable either take off work or are unavailable. A sick child will not be sent on the bus even if it is the end of the day when things are noticed. I have made some guidelines to follow. There is also a portion in the student handbook where these things are addressed. If you have any questions at all, please call. Try to remember that it isn’t just your child that is in school; we have other students that have medical conditions, along with mothers, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and more people that a sick child is exposing also.
FEVER: Parents will be called to come and get their child if he has a fever of 100 or more. The child will have to stay out of school for at least 24 hours AFTER it returns to normal without medications.
VOMITING: Parents will be called to pick up their child
DIARRHEA: Parents will be called to pick up their child
PINK EYE: Parents will be called to pick up their child if pink eye is suspected. Child may return to school after drops have been started.
HEAD LICE: Parents will be called to pick up child. They will not be able to return unless they are NIT FREE and will have to be checked by the nurse before returning to classes.
STREP THROAT: Child should be on medication and not a have a fever for 24 hours before returning to school.
CHICKEN POX : Children must remain home until all blisters are scabbed over.
MEDICATIONS: A child that is required to take medications at school must have a doctor’s order, parents’ permission, and medication must be in the original bottle.
**It is very important for the school to know of any changes in health history. Please inform this office of any changes no matter how small.**
