1. What are some illness guidelines about when to keep students home?
Students who become ill during the school day will be assessed by the school nurse and receive appropriate care and supervision in the nurse’s office. The school nurse will dismiss the student only after a parent or other responsible adult listed on the call list has been contacted. In accordance with Maine Department of Health and Human Services guidelines, a child should not attend school if he/she exhibits one or more of the following symptoms or infections:
Fever – fever is defined as having a temperature of 100 degrees F or higher.
Diarrhea – watery, foul smelling, runny and/or bloody stools.
Vomiting – one or more times in the last 24-hour period.
Nasal discharge – runny, yellow-greenish mucous accompanied by fever, vomiting or diarrhea.
Sore throat, vomiting, earache or irritability accompanied by a fever.
Pinkeye – drainage from the eye or inflammation of the conjunctiva/mucous membranes of the eye. Students may return to school after receiving medication for 24 full hours.
Rash – an unexplained rash with fever or behavioral change. Student can return to school if a physician has determined the illness is not communicable and fever is gone.
Strep Throat/Impetigo and other bacterial infections requiring antibiotics. A student with strep throat must remain home until they have been on their antibiotics for a full 24 hours.
Any health issue that the health staff deems necessary for the student to be excused from school.
Students with these symptoms cannot comfortably participate in program activities and unnecessarily expose others to their illnesses; they should stay home for at least 24 hours before returning to school. Students should be fever-free without the aid of fever-reducing medication, such as Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for 24 hours before returning to school.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the United States to expand protection against the flu to more people.
2. What if a student needs a medication during the school day?
A guardian and health care provider must sign a Permission to Administer Medication form
Medication should be brought to the school clinic by an adult
Inhalers--an asthma action plan form must be on file in health services each school year. Inhalers may be kept in health services or carried by the student with permission by the nurse, doctor, and guardian.
Epi-pens--an allergy action plan form must be on file each school year. Epi-pens may be kept in health services or carried by the student with permission by the nurse, doctor, and guardian.
MSAD#6 schools do provide over the counter medications such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and benadryl with a signed permission form and parent contact has been made.
Contact your school nurse by phone, e-mail, or in person if you have questions.
(Forms can be found on the FORMS page and the complete medication policy under HEALTH-RELATED POLICIES)
3. When does a student athlete need a physical exam?
A copy of a physical exam must be received by the school nurse prior to participation or before trying out for an athletic activity.
Thereafter, a student participating in sports must have a sports physical within the past 2 years.