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Health Services Department
Our goal is to keep students healthy because healthy students learn better.
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High schools, middle schools, K-8 schools and Rillito Center have full-time, state-certified registered nurses. The elementary health offices are managed by elementary school health aides trained in first aid and CPR. They are under the direct supervision of the school’s principal. Amphitheater Public School District also employs a full-time school nurse case manager, who, along with the Director, provides case management for special-needs students in schools without nurses.
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Is My Child Sick? Should I Send My Child to School?
If you keep your child home from school for any reason, please contact the school office and report your child's absence.
One of the problems most often confronting parents of school-aged children occurs when a child complains of not feeling well on a school day.
A decision must be made as to whether the child stays home or goes to school. What do you do? How do you make the right decision? You do not want to keep a child home if he/she is not sick; but you also do not want to send a sick child to school.
Become familiar with the symptoms as outlined here.
COVID-19
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
See Amphi's COVID-19 section to determine whether you should send your child to school.
FLU - (INFLUENZA)
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu," is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. If you suspect your child has the flu, keep your child home and call your doctor. The flu affects all age groups, though kids tend to get it more often than adults. The flu is often confused with the common cold, but flu symptoms usually are more severe than the typical sneezing and stuffiness of a cold. Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, dizziness, loss of appetite, tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting, weakness, ear pain, and diarrhea.FEVER
A fever is a warning that all is not right with the body. The best way to check for a fever is with a thermometer. A child with a temperature of l00° or higher should be kept at home. When no thermometer is available, check the child's forehead with the back of your hand. If it is hot, keep your child home until the temperature can be checked with a thermometer. Do not allow your child to return to school until he/she has been fever- free for 24 hours without medication.RASH
A rash may be the first sign of one of childhood's many illnesses, such as measles or chicken pox. A rash or "spots" may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. Do not send your child to school with a rash until your doctor has said it is safe to do so.STOMACHACHE, VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA
Consult your doctor if your child has a stomachache that is persistent or severe enough to limit his/her activity. If vomiting occurs, keep your child home until he/she can keep down his/her food. A child with diarrhea should be kept home until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours. Call your doctor if prompt improvement does not occur.TOOTHACHE
Contact your dentist.EARACHE
Consult your doctor without delay.HEADACHE
A child whose only complaint is a headache usually does not need to be kept home.COLD, SORE THROAT, AND COUGH
The common cold presents the most frequent problem to parents. A child with a cold and a deep or barking cough belongs at home in bed, even if he/she does NOT have a fever. If your child has a complaint of a sore throat and has no other symptoms, he/she may go to school. If white spots can be seen in the back of the throat or if a fever is present, keep your child home and call your doctor.PINK EYE -(CONJUNCTIVITIS)
Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye is highly contagious and uncomfortable, so be aware of complaints of burning, itching, or eyes producing whitish discharge. This requires treatments with prescription eye drops. Keep your child home for 24 hours after appropriate treatment has been initiated and signs and symptoms are greatly reduced.
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Medication Administration
All medications (with the limited exception, mentioned below) must be kept in the health office and administered by the health aide, RN, or designated front office staff. Parents must give permission with a signed consent form which can be accessed through the following links:
◦Daily Prescription and Treatment Permit
Administration of Daily Prescription Medication:
All medication is to be furnished by a parent or legal guardian. Prescription medication must be in the original container as prepared by a pharmacist and labeled with the child’s name, name of medication, dosage, time to be given and duration of the treatment. Any variance from the labeled medication must have a physician’s statement and/or letter on file in the health office. Homeopathic, herbal, naturopathic, and foreign prescription medications are not FDA approved for use and, therefore, will not be administered by Amphitheater personnel.
Administration of Short-Term Prescription/Non-Prescription Medication:
All medication including short term prescription must be furnished by the parent or legal guardian. All prescription medication must be in the original container as prepared by a licensed pharmacist and labeled with the child’s name, name of medication, dosage, time to be given, and duration of treatment. All non-prescription medication must be in the original, unopened container with all directions, dosages, compound contents, and proportions clearly marked. A licensed prescriber’s signature is required for administration of any non-prescription medication after three (3) consecutive doses of that medication have been administered. To ensure the use of this medication is not masking symptoms of any other serious condition, a physician’s statement and/or letter must be submitted and kept on file for administration of any non-prescription medications beyond the recommended product label instructions. Homeopathic, herbal, naturopathic, and foreign prescription and non-prescription medications are not FDA approved for use and, therefore, will not be administered by Amphitheater personnel.
As per Amphitheater regulation J-5361©JLCD-R, students are not allowed to carry and self-administer any medication without a licensed prescriber’s written recommendation/authorization on file.
EXCEPTIONS:
Medication for diagnosed anaphylaxis (Epi Pen), breathing disorders requiring handheld inhaler devices, and diabetes. Parent or legal guardian must provide written permission for the student to self administer and carry the medication. Students in violation of this regulation are subject to disciplinary action.
Emergency Medications
Arizona legislation is now in place to provide Arizona school districts access to emergency medications for life threatening reactions in the school setting. Amphitheater Public Schools Health Services Department now has stock EpiPens and stock Inhalers at every school site for use with students that exhibit anaphylaxis and/or respiratory distress.
Both medications can be used on students with either known or unknown life-threatening conditions.
Standing orders, procedures, and training is in place for all health care staff at each school. Parents will be notified when staff use any emergency medications for their students. These medications will allow our students to be safe from severe life threatening allergic reactions and respiratory distress.
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