School Health Services
SCHOOL HEALTH UPDATES
Effective August 17, 2015, several revisions and additions to the education statutes were enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly. Some of the changes affecting school health services are described below, effective for the 2015-16 school year and thereafter.
SCHOOL SCREENINGS
Vision Screenings - will be done in Kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 (formerly K, 1-6, and 9)
Audiometric Screenings - (hearing) will be done in Kindergarten, and grades 1, 3, 4 and 5 (formerly K, 1,2,3,5, and 8).
Postural Screenings - (scoliosis) will be done as follows:
- Females - Grades 5 and 7 (formerly grades 5-9, with the postural documentation on the required 7th grade physical being an acceptable substitution for the 7th grade school screening)
- Males - Grades 8 or 9 (formerly grades 5-9, with the postural documentation on an 8th grade physical being an acceptable substitution for the 8th grade school screening)
There is no change in the procedure for providing written notice to parents or guardians who do not pass any school screening. However, if their child did not receive such screening, a brief statement explaining why shall be given.
Sports Physicals - All students wishing to try out for a sport at North Haven Middle or High School must be registered online by their parent or guardian via FamilyID.com. This procedure is required for every sport and must be renewed every school year prior to tryouts. Sports physicals must be done annually, and uploaded into the registration (preferred method), or handed in to the school nurse prior to tryouts.
ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATIONS
Schools are now required to develop policies and procedures for the administration of epinephrine as an emergency first aid to students who experience severe allergic reactions during regular school hours, even if they do not have prior written authorization from their health care provider or a parent/guardian. Under the new state law, epinephrine can now be given by a qualified school employee who has completed the required training, if the school nurse is absent or unavailable during regular school hours. All North Haven Public Schools stock epinephrine for this purpose. Parents or guardians who refuse to allow the emergency administration of epinephrine by a trained and qualified school employee in the absence or unavailability of the school nurse must submit their wishes in writing to the school nurse each year.
For FDA-approved medications being administered according to an approved study protocol, a copy of the protocol shall be provided to the school nurse along with the name of the medication to be given in school, and the acceptable range of dosage to be given. Previously, investigational or study medications could not be administered in school by qualified personnel, regardless of whether they were FDA-approved. For school readiness programs, and before and after school programs, investigational drugs or research/study medications are still not allowed to be given by the director, director designee, lead teacher or administrator.
For antiepileptic medication, if a student has a written order from a licensed physician and a parent/guardian, a school nurse can provide supervision to a qualified school employee to give antiepileptic medication, including by rectal syringe, to a specific student who has been diagnosed with an epileptic condition. This authorization is limited to situations when the school nurse is absent or unavailable. An annual training program must be completed by the qualified school employee (who can be a principal, teacher, licensed athletic trainer, licensed physical therapist or occupational therapist employed by a school district, coach, or school paraprofessional), with monthly reviews to confirm competency.
A full description of the revisions and additions to the educational statutes can be accessed: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2015/act/pa/pdf/2015PA-00215-R00HB-07023-PA.pdf
The latest newsletter from the
Quinnipiack Valley Health District (QVHD) can be accessed online at: