CLINIC NEWS 
 

Welcome back to school!!  The year is off to a good start and I want to remind everyone that it is very important to take good care of your health. To help protect yourself against viral illness, it is important to maintain a healthy immune system.  Getting enough rest, eating nutritiously, maintaining good hydration, and regular exercise all contribute to a healthy system.  Another way to protect against viral illness is to practice frequent hand-washing and “train” yourself not to touch your face with your fingertips.  Simple rules, but not always easy to follow!  Stay healthy and feel free to contact me at any time in the clinic.

Some of the policies for the Health Clinic outlined by the Stafford County School Board concerning treatments or medications to be received by students on a regular basis during school hours are as follows:

1.   If your student requires any treatment or medication during school hours, it is required that a Doctor’s order and your signature granting me permission to dispense the medication or treatment be on file in the clinic.
2.   A new request for Treatment or Medication (doctor’s order) must be submitted each school year.
3.   This includes any over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Advil, Ibuprofen, any prescription medication, and ASTHMA INHALERS.
4.   All medications must be in the original container whether it is an over-the-counter product or prescription medication.  The pharmacy will provide a labeled prescription bottle for the school if you ask for it when filling your prescription.
5.   ALL MEDICATIONS should be delivered to the clinic by the parent or guardian.  Please contact the school nurse if there are problems with this.
6.   NO MEDICATION will be sent home from school with a student.

Short term medications such as antibiotics may be administered by the school nurse as long as they are in the original container and a parent has signed the consent at the bottom of the Request for Treatment and/or Medication form.  Short term medications are those that are given for 10 days or less and cannot be worked around school hours.

Students are allowed to carry their Asthma inhalers at the High School level as long as it has been determined that they are able to use the inhaler appropriately.  An Asthma contract signed by the parent and the student, a signed doctor’s order, and a back-up inhaler must be in the clinic before the student can bring their inhaler to school.

The forms necessary for Treatments and/or Medications during school hours are available on the Stafford County Public Schools web site or in the clinic.

Here is a list of commonly used items in the clinic.  If your student should not be using these items, or have allergies to any of the below, please bring it to my attention  as soon as possible.

            Alcohol                                    Isotonic Eye Wash

            Orasol Liquid                          Vinyl Gloves

            Bacitracin Ointment                  Hydrogen Peroxide

            Bactine                                    Vaseline

            Chloroseptic Spray                   Bandaids

            Saline Contact Solution

Cough drops will not be provided by the clinic—students are permitted to bring their own as long as they use them appropriately.  Personal items for female students are also not provided by the clinic.

Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding to keep a child home from school due to illness: