The healthroom hours are 8:15 until 3:45 Monday through Friday during the school year. Please feel free to call or e-mail the school nurses with any questions at 355-6507 or 355-6518. Information can be faxed to the nurse at 355-6645.
HEALTH ROOM POLICY CHANGES BEGINNING IN AUGUST 2010
DUE TO CHANGES IN SOUTH CAROLINA POLICIES GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE A 10 DAY GRACE PERIOD BEFORE WRITTEN PHYSICIAN AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.
- PARENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION TO SCHOOL AND PROVIDE FORM MED-1 BEFORE ANY PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION MAY BE LEFT AT THE SCHOOL.
- IF YOUR CHILD MUST SELF-ADMINISTER MEDICATION AT SCHOOL FORM MED-2 IS REQUIRED BEFORE MEDICATION IS BROUGHT TO SCHOOL.
- A PARENT MAY PROVIDE WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FOR OVER-THE- COUNTER MEDICATION TO BE KEPT AND ADMINISTERED IN THE HEALTH ROOM USING FORM MED-3.
All Health Services procedures and guidelines and these forms are available here.
Student Emergency Forms
Your child will receive a packet during the first week of school that includes the Student Medical Emergency Form. Please complete, date and sign the form, and return to the school nurse immediately. These forms will be kept on file in the healthroom. The nurse does not have the authority to enter phone numbers or addresses on the computer. If your contact information is incorrect on the parent portal, please notify the guidance department.
Medications
For your child’s safety please remember:
No medication (including cough drops) will be given without written Parental Permission. The parent must supply medication and medical supplies. School nurses may not administer the first dose of any medication (student should be monitored by parent for possible side effects following initial dose).
Any medication given every day for longer than two weeks must also have written Physician Authorization. Inhalers, insulin, and emergency medications, such as Epi-Pens, must also have written Physician Authorization. If your child has authorization to carry an inhaler or an Epi-Pen, it is recommended that a spare one be kept in the healthroom.
School nurses are legally required to administer only medications with FDA approval.
All prescription medication must be administered as labeled and over-the-counter medication may not exceed package directions.
All medication must be in the original container, and no expired medication will be given.
No medication containing Aspirin or PPA can be given at school without written Physician Authorization.
If your child forgets to take a morning dose of medication, school nurses are not allowed to give that dose at school. Parents may come to the healthroom to give the missed dose.
Students with medication prescribed by a health care provider contained in the original packaging and appropriately labeled may carry these medications, may self-monitor and may self-administer these medications only if written permission from the prescribing doctor and the parent/legal guardian is submitted to the nurse. If there is evidence that unsupervised self-monitoring or self-medicating would seriously jeopardize the safety of the student or others, the school district may refuse to allow the student to carry his/her medication.
Students carrying medication without proper authorization will be referred to an administrator.
Medication forms are available from the school nurse and can also be downloaded via the MHS website under student services, and also via the district website.
Medications not picked up at the end of the school year will be destroyed and permission forms must be submitted for each school year.
Student Visits to the Healthroom
A teacher or administrator pass is required when coming to the healthroom, except in the event of an emergency.
Every effort is made to keep students in school if at all possible; however, if it is determined that your child is too ill to remain in school, a parent or legal guardian will be contacted for dismissal.
Please consider providing the school with medication if your child has frequent headaches, stomach upset or menstrual pain, as these are not necessarily reasons for dismissal.
Students will be sent home with the following illnesses: active vomiting or diarrhea; a fever of 10l or above; any condition that may be contagious; an injury or illness that requires further evaluation by a physician.
Elevator Pass/Special Privileges
In order to use the elevator due to a severe injury, a student must bring a physician note to the school nurse describing the injury and length of time student will need to use the elevator. At that time a key and elevator pass will be given to the student. There is a $10 fine for lost keys. Misuse of the elevator will be referred to an administrator.
A physician note must also be submitted to the school nurse for special privileges or exemption from PE due to illness or injury.
State Immunization Requirements
All 9th graders must have had a history of the chickenpox disease or the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine.
Hepatitis B – 3 doses
Polio – 3 doses with last dose after 4th birthday
DTP, DT, DTP-DtaP or Td – 3 doses with last dose after 4th birthday
MMR – 2 doses
An up-to-date SC Certificate of Immunization is required 30 days after starting school. Students not meeting immunization requirements will not be allowed to remain in school. Out-of-state transfer students who meet SC immunization requirements will be issued a SC Certificate of Immunization by the school nurse. The health department will administer vaccinations by appointment only. Their phone number is 282-4311.
Vision Screening
9th grade students are screened annually. Parents of students that require further evaluation by an eye doctor will be notified in writing. If your child is in another grade and you would like to have their vision screened, please send a note to the nurse.
Hearing Screening
High school students are not routinely screened for hearing problems. If you feel there is a problem and would like to have your child’s hearing screened, please send a note to the nurse.
