Health Services Home
Health Services
Introduction
The health and welfare of students remains a primary concern for the Allegheny Valley School District. With that responsibility, the District provides for student health services in each of its schools. A certified school nurse, along with two nurse’s assistants, staff the three offices to provide health care for all students.
Policies and Procedures
In compliance with the school code, the School Board requires that all District students submit to health and dental examinations. Each student shall receive a comprehensive health examination upon original entry to the District and while in sixth and eleventh grades. These examinations will be conducted by the school physician. A private examination conducted at the parent’s request and at their expense will be accepted in lieu of the school examination.
In addition, each child shall receive a comprehensive dental examination upon original entry to the District and while in third and seventh grades. These examinations will be conducted by the school dentist. A private examination conducted at the parent’s request and at their expense will be accepted in lieu of the school examination. Parents and guardians of children who are to be checked shall be notified of these examinations. Forms are available at each school and on-line for parents who choose to have their child examined by their own doctor or dentist. A student who presents a statement signed by his or her parent or guardian that a medical examination is contrary to his or her religious beliefs shall be examined only when the Secretary of Health determines that the student presents a substantial health menace to the health of other persons. Please note that all students must comply with this policy or be removed from school until such time that this provision is fulfilled by the parent and student.
This private physical or dental exam must follow the time lines established by the school for the respective year requested and should not carry over from year to year.
Please also note:
- Vision tests are given every year, beginning with kindergarten, by a school nurse.
- Audio tests are given in kindergarten, first, second, third, seventh and eleventh grades and annually to special ungraded classes.
- Scoliosis (spinal curvature) screening takes place annually for sixth and seventh grade classes.
- Height and weight measurements are charted annually from kindergarten through twelfth grade.
- A cumulative record of medical examinations is maintained for all students.
Current Health Issues
See below for additional alerts and information about school health issues. Questions, concerns, or specific issues for your child should be referred to Ms. Kandi Conner, School Nurse, at 724-274-2110 or kconner@avsd.k12.pa.us.
Health Forms
Alerts
Health Information: Influenza
Influenza (the flu) is a virus passed (1) through the droplets of sneezes and coughs, and (2) by touching surfaces infected by people with influenza. Protecting yourself is easier than you think:
- Use a tissue to cover your cough and sneeze. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze in your sleeve, not in your hand. Covering your cough is key to preventing the spread of the virus. Dispose of the tissue immediately and wash your hands. Coughing or sneezing into your sleeve avoids infecting your hands and keeps germs from spreading to people or surfaces around you.
- Keep your hands away from your face and don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes. Germs on your hands can easily spread to your mouth, nose, and eyes when you touch your face.
- Wash your hands with soap often (or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer). Germs can live for up to 8 hours on all the surfaces you touch. Take the time — every time — to wash your hands when you’ve been in public (that goes for meetings, the supermarket, school, the park…anywhere your hands touch something that other hands have touched). And especially before you eat.
- Keep frequently used surfaces clean.
- Stay home if you get sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you stay home until at least 24 hours after your fever is gone, leaving the house only to get medical care. Schools and workplaces are encouraging this policy to avoid infecting other students and employees.
One last tip to prepare for the upcoming flu season: Stock over-the-counter medications, alcohol-based cleaner, tissues and plenty of fluids while you’re well to avoid the need for a pharmacy trip in the event you do get sick
The nurse in each building will be watchful for students with influenza-like symptoms (fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea) who may have been exposed to the new swine flu strain.
Visit the Allegheny County Health Department website for additional information about the flu.
Information
Control of Communicable Diseases/Immunizations
There are many current communicable diseases or conditions for which children must be excluded from school. The school should be notified if children develop any of these diseases or conditions, including:
- Chicken Pox
- Impetigo Contagiosa
- Lice (Pediculosis) Exclusion lasts until the last child is free from all nits
- Pink Eye (Contagious Conjunctivitis)
- Ringworm
- Scabies
- Scarlet Fever
- Strep Throat (Streptococcal infections)
Re-admission of any child to school following such an illness will be determined by the child being symptom-free as well as the possible observance of the exclusion period. The school nurse should be consulted if there are any questions or concerns regarding re-admission to school.
Immunizations
Every student attending school in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be immunized against the following diseases:
Compulsory for all grades:
- Four doses of diptheria/tetanus vaccine (one dose on or after the fourth birthday); three doses if series started after 7 years of age.
- Four doses of diptheria (one dose on or after the fourth birthday); three doses if series started after 7 years of age.
- Three doses of polio vaccine
- Three doses of hepatitis B vaccine
- Two doses of measles and mumps
- One dose of rubella vaccine
- Two doses of varicella (Chicken Pox) or written statement from physician/designee indicating the month and year of the disease or serologic proof of immunity.
Compulsory for grades 7 – 12:
- One dose of tetanus/diptheria/pertussis (Tdap)
- One dose of meningitis vaccine (MCV4)
- If your child has had the measles or rubella disease, and not the vaccine, the results of a blood test (serology providing immunity) must be presented to the school. If your child has had the mumps disease, and not the vaccine, a written statement from your physician verifying the diagnosis must be submitted. State law requires that proof of immunization, serology results, or doctor’s verification must be provided before any child can be admitted to school.
PA Dept. of Health Immunization Information
Drugs & Alcohol
A student who, while under the school’s jurisdiction, is found to possess, use or abuse alcohol, narcotics, other drugs, health-endangering compounds, or drug paraphernalia shall be subject to immediate disciplinary action. Paraphernalia includes: syringes, needles, roach clips, pipes, and look-a-like substances. Parents will be notified immediately; the school will also notify the local police department. An informal hearing before the principal and superintendent will determine what action will be taken.
Medications
Parents are encouraged to adjust medications so that they do not interfere with class time. If necessary, parents are asked to contact the building principal or nurse about their child’s medication. Students are not to be given medication to take in school without the knowledge of either the school nurse or the building principal.
The noted procedure will be followed when it becomes necessary for school personnel to administer medication to a student during the school day:
- Only those medications prescribed by a doctor will be given.
- A statement signed by a physician with instructions must be presented by the student.
- The instructions must indicate:
- the name of the medication to be taken
- the dosage of the medication
- the time for the medication to be given
- any possible side effects or special instructions
Written parental consent must accompany the physician’s statement. Only daily dosages in the original prescription container will be accepted. The school will not be responsible for more than a day’s supply of medication, unless special circumstances exist. The medication will be locked in the nurse’s or principal’s office. The medication must be labeled as indicated above. The student must take the medication in the presence of the school nurse, building principal, or other designated school personnel.
Sickness & Injuries
Students should not be sent to school if they are obviously sick. First aid is available to those students who become ill or injured while in school. These students should report immediately to the teacher in charge.
When a student becomes ill at school, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation from school to home. Working parents are not excluded from this duty and should make arrangements for a neighbor or relative to be available in emergencies. These names and phone numbers should be listed on the student’s Emergency Care Sheet.
Emergency Care Sheets are completed by parents annually. The forms enable the school nurse to see that children receive the best care possible. It is extremely important that these forms be updated in the school office. Phone numbers should be updated as soon as possible after a change has been made. Parents are asked to select individuals who would cooperate and be willing to care for their children when ill and who will come to school to pick up their children when ill.
When the Principal, nurse, or designee believes that a situation demands urgent emergency care, an ambulance will be called. Parents and guardians will be notified as soon as possible about the emergency.
Please be advised that:
- Parents who do not have telephone service to their home are asked to provide some method by which the school may contact them in the case of an emergency.
- Under no circumstances is a student to go home because of illness or injury unless he has been excused by the nurse or the principal.
- Home-incurred accidents are not the responsibility of the school. Medical help in these situations cannot be administered.
Schools cannot provide aspirin, cough drops, or other types of over-the-counter medications. Parents will have to follow the described process for medication if they want these drugs administered.
The attached document provides updated vaccination guidelines for all schools in Pennsylvania. The focus of the these new guidelines are to decrease the amount of time school districts have allowed students to be ‘provisionally’ enrolled. In other words, the student does not have all of the immunizations required to attend school, but has proven to have at least one of the doses of the required immunizations. The window has been decreased from 8 months to 5 days. For example, Kindergarten students will have 5 days, from the beginning of school year, to either get the immunizations required OR provide a note from a physician documenting the reason for not having the immunization OR documenting when the appropriate dose will be given. A student who is transferring into the District from another state or country will be given 30 days to provide documentation. Other exceptions are also detailed in the attachment. Please contact the school nurse, Ms. Kandi Conner, at 724-274-8100 with any questions.