General Information

PHILOSOPHY

Responsibility for the care of children lies primarily with parents.  The school nurse will assist and support their efforts to maintain optimum health for the child and will educate the child in the importance of taking command of their own health care management and knowledge.  Academic success is directly related to the good health and emotional well-being of each student.

MEDICATION POLICY

According to the HISD Handbook for School Health, based on state law, the policy for administration of medication in school is as follows:  “A physician must state in writing the diagnosis, whether the pupil is infectious and that the pupil should have a certain medication during school hours.  He/she should describe the type of preparation, color, quantity, and frequency of administration.  A form must be signed by the physician and parent and on file before any medication may be given.  This form must be renewed at the beginning of each year.”  Parents may request this form during school hours from the school nurse.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

According to state law no person may be admitted to an elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless he or she has been immunized against Diphtheria, Rubeola, Rubella, Tetanus, Mumps, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B, varicella and haemophilus influenza. 

Students must be current on their immunizations at the time of enrollment and entry.  Periodic checks are done on immunization compliance levels.  If your child’s immunization record becomes outdated, he/she will receive a notice from the school nurse and must comply ASAP or withdraw from school.  Please check with the school nurse if you need a copy of the required immunization schedule.

Health Alerts:

BACTERIAL MENINGITIS FAQs
October 2003:

Q. WHAT IS MENINGITIS?

A. Meningitis is an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord.  It is caused by viruses, parasites, and bacteria.  Viral meningitis is most common and the least serious.  Bacterial meningitis is the most common form of serious bacterial infection with the potential for serious, long-term complications.  It is an uncommon disease, but requires urgent treatment with antibiotics to prevent permanent damage or death.

Q. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

A. Someone with meningitis will become very ill.  The illness may develop over one or two days. But it can also rapidly progress in a matter of hours.  Not everyone with meningitis will have the same symptoms.

Children (over 1 year old) and adults with meningitis may have a severe headache, high temperature, vomiting, sensitivity to bright lights, neck stiffness or joint pains, and drowsiness or confusion.  In both children and adults, there may be a rash of tiny, red-purple spots.  These can occur anywhere on the body.

The diagnosis of bacterial meningitis is base on a combination of symptoms and laboratory results.

Q. HOW SERIOUS IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS?

A. If it is diagnosed early and treated promptly, the majority of people make a complete recovery.  In some cases it can be fatal or a person may be left with a permanent disability.

Q. HOW IS BACTERIAL MENINGITIS SPREAD?

A. Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as diseases like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by causal contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.  The germs live naturally in the back of our noses and throats, but they do not live for long outside the body.  They are spread when people exchange saliva (such as by kissing, sharing drinking containers, utensils, or cigarettes).

The germ DOES NOT cause meningitis in most people.  Instead, most people become carriers of the germ for days, weeks or even months.  The bacteria rarely overcome the body’s immune system and causes meningitis or another serious illness.

Q. HOW CAN BACTERIAL MENINGITIS BE PREVENTED?

A. Do not share food, drinks, utensils, toothbrushes, or cigarettes.  Limit the number of persons you kiss.

While there are vaccines for some other strains of bacterial meningitis, they are used only in special circumstances.  These include when there is a disease outbreak in a community or for people traveling to a country where there is a high risk of getting the disease.  Also, a vaccine is recommended by some groups for college students, particularly freshmen living in dorms or residence halls.  The vaccine is safe and effective (85-95%).  It can cause mild side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days.  Immunity develops within 7 to 10 days after the vaccine is given and lasts for up to 5 years.

Q. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU THINK YOU OR A FRIEND MIGHT HAVE BACTERIAL MENINGITIS?
Seek prompt medical attention.

WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD AT HOME? 

According to written policy, students should remain home when they have a fever of 100 or above, are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, have an undiagnosed rash, have uncontrolled asthma, or have untreated pink eye.  Students should be free of any of these symptoms for a full twenty-four hours before they return to school.  This policy is in the best interest of your child and other children as well.  There may be other conditions that would keep or send a child home that will be decided by the school nurse in collaboration with the parent.

SCREENINGS

Vision and hearing screenings are performed on all odd grade level students and scoliosis screening is performed on sixth grade students.  If your child is not in any of these grade levels, and you wish for him/her to be screened, just call the clinic and make a request with the school nurse.  If your child does not pass the screening, you will receive a referral letter with the recommendation of seeing your doctor of choice for a more thorough evaluation.  This referral is to be returned to the school nurse with the doctor’s recommendations.

RESOURCES AND ADVICE 

The nurse is here to assist you in managing your child’s health care needs.  If you have any questions regarding community resources, illnesses, chronic conditions, family problems or emotional health, please feel free to call or stop by for a chat.  If the problem does not have an immediate solution, there are many resources available to assist you in a particular need.  Also check with the school nurse for CHIPS referrals.  Every child who does not have health insurance qualifies under state law.

NURSE REFERRAL FORMS AND FIRST AID KITS 

Nurse referral forms will be placed in each teacher box before the start of school.  Every student should have this pass when coming to the clinic.  It provides the nurse with necessary information and accounts for the student being out of class.  The student will return with the bottom portion completed by the nurse so that the teacher will know of the disposition.

Each teacher will receive a first aid “baggie” containing Band-Aids and rubber gloves.  These supplies may be used for minor scrapes and abrasions and will be replenished upon request.

WHO SHOULD I SEND TO THE CLINIC?

1.       Emergencies including, but not limited to, fractures, head injuries, allergic reactions, seizures and eye injuries should be assessed by the school nurse.

2.       Minor injuries, such as superficial scrapes and abrasions, may be handled in the classroom.  Abrasions should be washed with soap and water in the nearest rest room.  Either the student or teacher may then apply Band-Aids.

3.       All students with head injuries should be sent to the clinic for assessment by the school nurse.

4.       Referrals for vision and hearing screening only if the students are in the second, fourth or eighth grades.  All others will be screened as scheduled.

The school nurse cannot pull loose teeth.  “Treasure Chests” are provided after the tooth is out.

The school nurse is available, upon request, to deliver health education classes on the topic of your choice.  There is also a large selection of health materials in the clinic for you to have or borrow upon request.  Growth and Development classes are provided annually for the fifth grade students and, this year, it is hoped to introduce an abstinence-based health program for our middle school students.  All classes related to sexual health are provided only with written parental consent.

Universal precautions stipulate that no one should come in direct contact with blood or bodily fluids at any time.  ALWAYS USE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING BLOOD OR BODILY FLUIDS.  If you accidentally come in contact with blood or bodily fluids, wash the source of contact immediately with soap and water. 

Every staff member NEW to HISD will receive a mandatory in-service on AIDS.  On our campus, the employee receives a self-study packet that culminates with a simple evaluation exam to be turned in to the school nurse upon completion.

By law, anyone knowing or suspecting physical, emotional or sexual child abuse must report the incident to Child Protective Services.  On our campus, the school nurse or counselor will assist in this reporting.  If physical abuse is suspected, the nurse will document areas of concern.  Every staff member NEW to HISD will receive a self-study packet to be turned in to the nurse upon completion as part of the mandatory in-service.

            Abelardo Saavedra                                                    Robert Lee Frost Elementary   •  5650 Selinsky • Houston, Texas   •  77048                                    Warner Ervin

       Superintendent of Schools                                                                    Houston Independent  School District                                                            South Region Superintendent

   Elbert  L. White, Principal

                                                                                                                      Send questions and comments to Web Master                                                            Charles Bryant

                                                                                                                                         maddiso1@houstonisd.org                                                                Executive Principal

         Last Update: September 19, 2007