Nursing: The school nurse serves to provide expertise and oversight for the provision of school health services and promotion of health education. The school nurse is available to students and staff for health assessments, health counseling, and first aid. The school nurse performs state mandated health screenings and coordinates referrals. The school nurse actively advocates for student health services and a healthy school environment.
Screening: Health screenings are done to Ohio Department of Health guidelines. Health screenings could include vision, hearing, height, weight, and scoliosis. If a student doesn’t pass a screening assessment a referral will be mailed home. Parents will be responsible for follow up with the appropriate health care professional and notify the school nurse with results. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify the school if they want their student exempt from health screenings.
Health Screenings will begin each fall, please contact your office by the end of the 2nd week of school if you do not want your child to participate. Vision and hearing will be tested according to the Ohio Department of Health rules and regulations. Students screened routinely include preschool, kindergarten, grades 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11th grades, students new to our districts, and students referred by teacher concern. You will receive a confidential referral letter in the mail if your child was unable to pass the vision or hearing tests.
Medication: Medications can be administered by the school nurse when school board policy is followed. Medications must be in their original container. Medication must be brought in by an adult and never sent on the bus. If a prescription drug needs administered during school hours, a form needs to be signed by both parent and the prescriber. Over-the-counter medications just require a form filled out by a parent.
Illness: If a student has an illness and needs to miss school, parents must either call the office to report the illness or submit a written excuse when the student returns to school. School board policy dictates all students with signs or symptoms of diseases suspected as being communicable to others while at school are given immediate attention and sent home. Please keep students home if they have a fever, a wound in which drainage cannot be contained by a bandage, head lice, or infectious vomiting/diarrhea. Student should be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine before returning to school. The Ohio Department of Health has guidelines on communicable diseases which can be found at http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/forms/file.asp?id=1730&type=application/pdf
Vaccinations: In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable illnesses the Danbury Board of Education requires students to have proof of immunization against Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, & Chicken Pox as required by Ohio law. The Ohio Department of Health publishes the minimum vaccinations required for public school and preschool each year at: https://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhprograms/bid/immunization/imunchsc.aspx
Prevention: Hand washing remains the single most effective way to prevent disease. Students and staff should use good hand hygiene, especially after toileting/diaper changes, before preparing or eating food, after wiping noses or covering coughs & sneezes. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels, brushes or razors. Personal protective equipment such as vinyl gloves should be worn when it is not possible to avoid contact with blood and body fluids.