Health Information
HEALTH ROOM:
Health services are provided by the Boulder Valley School District. Each School Nurse Consultant has multiple schools. There is not a nurse in the school on a routine basis. Health care and first aid are provided by health paraeducators, volunteers, or office staff under the guidance of the School Nurse Consultant. Bear Creek's Health Room is staffed by a First Aid/CPR trained health room paraprofessional 20 hours per week. There is also an Emergency Response Team (First Aid/CPR trained staff or faculty) to handle severe injuries.
Vision and hearing screenings are conducted each year. We keep track of all immunizations and physicals. Medical, religious and personal exemptions are allowed in Colorado. Parental signatures are required. If your child has a significant health problem (i.e., asthma or allergies), please inform us so that we can avoid any complications. A physical is recommended for students entering Kindergarten, fourth grade and for new students to Boulder Valley School District.
HEALTH ROOM VOLUNTEERS:
We are in need of volunteers to adequately manage the health room functions. First Aid certification from an approved agency is necessary for anyone who will provide care to students. Red Cross classes are offered free of charge for volunteers. First Aid certification is NOT needed to help with only the paperwork in the health room. Please contact your health room or office staff if you are able to help in any way, and would like to receive information regarding training.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION:
It is extremely important that the Emergency Information form be returned to school on the first day. Please complete and sign the entire form. Include any medications prescribed for your child, whether or not they are given during the school day. Also describe any health conditions which may affect your child's school routine or performance.
It is important that two emergency contacts are listed. Be sure to notify the office with any changes in emergency information and phone numbers: both home and work. If your child is ill, he or she may only be released to those listed on the Emergency Information card. If you will be out of town, please call and inform office staff in writing to report who will be caring for your child in your absence.
IMMUNIZATIONS:
Colorado state law requires that we have up-to-date immunization records on file or a signed exemption before students can attend school. Transfer students have 60 days to have records on file. For immunizations at reduced costs contact the Boulder County Health Department at 303.666.0515.
ILLNESSES:
In addition to obvious illness or injuries, please keep your child home is he/she has any of the following:
Fever of 100 degrees F or more
Fever of 98.6 degrees F and other symptoms
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Frequent and uncontrolled coughing and/or sneezing
CRITERIA FOR SENDING A CHILD HOME FROM SCHOOL:
Symptoms (vomiting, etc.) with or without a fever
a fever of 100 degrees F
a fever of 98.6 degrees F with accompanying symptoms
some injuries (at the discretion of the Health Room staff)
a child with diarrhea
an unexplained rash
If your child has been ill, please give him or her adequate time to recuperate before returning to school. Rushing a child back only makes it difficult on the child and increases the chances of infecting other children. If your child is on antibiotics, please do not send your child to school until he or she has been on medication for a full 24 hours. Also, please don't send your child to school until their fever has been broken for at least 24 hours.
PLEASE make sure that your contact numbers are up to date: it is very hard to explain to a sick child that Mom or Dad's phone number is wrong.
MEDICATION AT SCHOOL:
Whenever possible, you are encouraged to give your child medication at home rather than during school hours. The Health Room can ONLY dispense prescription and non-prescription medication that is accompanied with a completed Medication Administration Authorization form signed by you and your child's physician. All over-the-counter medicine which includes aspirin, Tylenol, cough medicine, cough drops, etc. must be accompanied by this form as well. This is state law; please do not ask us to violate it.
The following guidelines are in place in the Boulder Valley School District, to provide safety for all students. Keep in mind that most staff who administer medication to students are non-medical people working under the supervision of a nurse consultant.
Medications are not to be in the personal possession of students.
All prescription and non-prescription medications (this includes aspirin, Tylenol, cough medicine, cough drops, etc.), must be accompanied by a completed Medication Administration Authorization form, which is to be signed by both a parent and your child's physician. A new Authorization form must be signed and submitted for each new prescription medication or dosage change. These forms are available in the school's health room. Completed forms may be faxed to the school. New Authorization forms must be completed each year.
Prescription medication supplied by the student's parent or guardian must be in a properly labeled bottle dispensed by a pharmacy.
The student must report to the health room or school office to take medications. EXCEPTION: Any student who requires the use of an inhaler or EpiPen may carry and self-administer the prescribed medication if the physician signs a specific statement on the Medication Administration Authorization form, endorsing the student's capability for this.
Non-prescription, "as needed"medications must be in the original labeled container. The bottle should also be labeled with the student's name.
It is the responsibility of the parent to obtain all unused medication at school when the medication is discontinued, the school year ends, or the student transfers to another school. At the end of a school year, school staff will dispose of all unclaimed medications.
As always, parents are welcome to come to the school and administer medication to their child.