Clinic

Emergencies & Illness at School

A Student Health Information Form should be completed online at the beginning of each school year.  This form will give you an opportunity to list any medical conditions, allergies, medications and concerns you may have. It also includes emergency information for the clinic staff. This information is used to contact you or a person you designate if needed for your child. If a student has a medical emergency at school or a school-related activity when the parent cannot be reached, the school may have to rely on previously provided parental consent to obtain emergency medical treatment and information about allergies to medications, foods, insect bites, etc. Therefore, parents are asked each year to complete an emergency care consent form as part of the Student Health Information Form. Parents should keep emergency care information up-to-date (name of doctor, emergency phone numbers, allergies, etc.) Please contact the school nurse to update any information that the nurse or the teacher needs to know.  In the case of an emergency requiring the care of a physician and school staff are unable to contact you or the person(s) you have designated as your emergency contact, school officials will determine what steps will be taken to protect the health of your child, including calling 911 and transporting your child to a medical facility. Note that the District has no financial responsibility for the emergency care or transportation of your child.

When your child is ill, please contact the school to let them know he or she won’t be attending that day. It is important to remember that schools must exclude students with certain illnesses for periods of time as identified in state rules. For example, if your child has a fever over 100 degrees, he or she must stay out of school until they are fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medications.

In addition, students with diarrheal illnesses must stay home until he/she is diarrhea free without diarrhea-suppressing medications for at least 24 hours. Illness at school is evaluated by the health service staff in the clinic area. A child who demonstrates the following symptoms should be sent home from school.

• Fever of 100 degrees or more.
• Suspected contagious condition or disease.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Severe stomachache, headache, or earache.
• A child who is too ill to function in the classroom.

A full list of conditions for which the school must exclude children can be obtained from the school nurse.

Medication at School

Conroe ISD policy allows school nurses to train authorized school employees to administer medication to students during school hours should it be necessary for the student’s optimum health and for maintaining maximum school performance. Texas Law requires districts to have the following information on file for all students who receive medication at school.

Non-Prescription Drugs and Prescription Drugs

The school must receive a written and dated request from the parent or legal guardian to administer any medication. This permission must include the name of the drug, the exact dosage and reason or purpose the student is to receive the medication. Prescription and non-prescription drugs must be in the original container and properly labeled. Medications given at school must be approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Only the guidelines printed on the container will be followed unless a physician order is present. The Surgeon General, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Center for Disease Control have recommended that due to the increased risk of developing “Reye’s Syndrome”, aspirin or products containing aspirin not be given to children under 18 years of age. If your physician orders aspirin for your child, please send a copy of the physician order.

Additional guidelines for medication to be administered at school:

• All medication must be kept in the clinic during the school day.
• Over-the-counter medication dosage must not exceed the dose recommendation listed on the bottle. Exception: If your physician, dentist, or orthodontist has directed a certain dosage to be given that is greater than that recommended on the bottle, a written order will need to be included with the written permission from the parent.
• The use of “sample” medication from the physician, dentist, or orthodontist must have signed written instructions from that doctor accompanied by the parent written permission.
• In the interest of safety for all students, medications cannot be transported to or from school on the school bus. Should your child need to have medication at school please bring or make arrangements for the medication to be brought to the clinic. For your convenience, many of the local pharmacies will provide a second labeled container for medications needed at school. Please note:  If a medication is required daily or twice-a-day, please administer at home. Many three-times-a-day orders may also be given at home unless the doctor requests specific time during school day.
• A record of each medication given at school is maintained in the clinic.
• Inhalers: Students with asthma may experience times when symptoms worsen and a physician requests that the student carry an inhaler to be used as needed. Please provide a letter from the physician with complete instructions for inhaler use and permission for the student to carry the inhaler. It is strongly recommended that a spare inhaler be kept in the clinic in case a student is unable to locate their personal inhaler.
• For medication for anaphylaxis, such as an “epi-pen”, to be in the possession of a student, the student must have a written letter from a physician stating that the student is capable of self-administering the medication if needed. This procedure is also evaluated by the school nurse to insure that the student is adequately prepared to self-administer the medication. It is strongly recommended a spare “epi-pen” be kept in the clinic.
• For students with Diabetes to carry supplies and self-administer insulin, the student must have a written plan from a physician stating that the student is capable of self-managing their care.
• All medication is to be picked up in the clinic by a parent or a designated adult at the end of the school year. No medication will be kept over the summer months. Please make arrangements with your campus clinic staff regarding pick-up of medications.