GORHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT
HEALTH SERVICES
There are many important health needs recognized in school-age children, therefore state laws and Board of Education policies have been developed to promote the health and safety of these children. It is the goal of the Gorham Health Services Department to carry out these policies and to identify preventative measures to promote wellness in the school community.
The School Health Department is staffed by professional nurses who cover Gorham High School, Gorham Middle School, Great Falls Elementary, Narragansett Elementary and Village Elementary Schools. Please contact the school nurse at your student’s school for any health concerns or questions.
ACCIDENTS
The guardian will be notified of all accidents occurring at school, except those requiring basic first aid. If the student needs follow-up care at home or at the hospital, the guardian (or their designated emergency contact person) is responsible for transporting the student. For serious medical emergencies, the rescue department will be called.
ALLERGIES
Students with severe allergies or history of anaphylaxis need an Allergy Action Plan from the student’s physician. Allergy Action Plans need to be updated yearly. Students who require emergency medications, such as Epinephrine Auto-Injector, may self-carry ONLY with the written permission of their physician and guardian in collaboration with the school nurse. Guardians will work with the school nutrition manager to set up instructions regarding meal choices at the start of each school year. Due to latex allergies district wide, only MYLAR balloons are allowed in the school buildings.
ASTHMA
Students with asthma need an Asthma Action Plan on file from the student’s physician. Asthma Action Plans need to be updated yearly. Students who require emergency medications, such as inhalers, may self-carry ONLY with the written permission of their physician and guardian in collaboration with the school nurse.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
Students with diseases that are contagious/infectious shall be excluded from school until signs of contagion are past. Exclusions are as follows:
Chicken Pox: Until all lesions have crusted over or are dry, usually 5-7 days or longer.
Conjunctivitis: Until purulent drainage has resolved.
COVID-19: Per latest CDC recommendations.
Impetigo: Until antibiotic treatment has started and all sores are covered.
Influenza: Until 24 hours after fever is resolved, without use of fever-reducing medicine.
Measles: Until cleared by medical provider-note needed.
Pertussis: Until cleared by medical provider-note needed.
Ringworm: Until treatment has been started.
Scabies: Until treatment has been started.
Strep: Until 12 hours after antibiotic treatment has started and 24 hours after fever is resolved, without use of fever-reducing medicine.
Fifth Disease: No exclusion necessary, but notify your student’s school nurse of the illness.
Head Lice: In accordance with guidance from the CDC, the AAP, and NASN regarding head lice infestations, the following guidelines will direct our actions:
PLEASE REPORT ALL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES TO THE SCHOOL NURSE!
COUGH DROPS
In accordance with the medication policy and due to concerns of choking, allergic reactions and overuse, cough drops with any additives such as menthol, vitamins, cough suppressants, etc. are regarded as medications and therefore require written permission from BOTH the student’s physician and guardian. As with any other medication, these medicated cough drops should be delivered to school by an adult, leaving just enough for one week with the school nurse. If your student still needs them after one week, consult your student’s physician.
Non-medicated cough drops such as plain Luden’s Throat Drops or HALLS Breezers (sent in original packaging) may be used in school with written permission from a guardian. Cough drops should be used no more than once every two hours. Sipping water all day is just as effective, with the added bonus of increased hydration and quicker recovery. Feel free to send your student to school with their own water bottle!
Our goal is to ensure the safety and well being of all students during the school day. We appreciate your cooperation in following these guidelines.
EMERGENCY CENSUS FORM
Each year, every student’s guardian must complete an emergency form during the first week of school. This form includes names and phone numbers of emergency contacts.
HAND SANITIZERS IN SCHOOL
The preferred method for hand hygiene, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, is washing with soap and water. Hand sanitizer stations are provided by the school district in areas without access to soap and water, but whenever possible, students should wash hands with soap and water. Please refrain from sending in hand sanitizer products from home as some students may have allergies to certain ingredients, be bothered by strong fragrances, or have sensitive skin conditions. Additionally, many hand sanitizer products are flammable and are not compliant with school building fire code.
HEARING AND VISION SCREENINGS
Each year the Health Service Department will complete the following screenings:
All students who do not pass the first screening will be re-screened at a later date. Once the second screening is completed, the nurse will send written notification to guardians of those who did not pass the second screening. Guardians may notify our department, in writing, if they do not want their child to be screened at school.
ABSENCE/DISMISSAL DUE TO ILLNESS
Please notify the school office if your student will not be attending school due to illness and provide information on the child’s symptoms and whether or not there is a fever over 100 degrees. Students who become ill at school will be dismissed only to the people listed on the emergency contact list unless the guardian informs the school of alternate arrangements. All students who are ill at school must be seen by either the school nurse or school secretary prior to dismissal. For the safety of all students, students are not permitted to contact parents for dismissal due to illness. All communication MUST go through the nurse or main office.
A student who is ill may return to school when:
IMMUNIZATIONS
All children enrolled in a public or private school in Maine must have the following immunizations:
Required for Pre-K entry:
Required for Kindergarten entry:
Required for 7th grade entry:
Required for 12th grade entry:
Whenever your student receives a vaccine, please send the updated immunization record to the school nurse. This ensures a complete health record and avoids immunization noncompliance with the potential for exclusion from school.
MEDICATIONS
Please note the student medication policy and medication administration permission form located at the end of this handbook.
PHYSICAL EXAMS
GSD Health Services encourages guardians to send their student’s physical exam record to the school nurse after preventative physical exams with their primary care provider. A routine physical exam provides the school with valuable information about the health status of the student and is an important part of their health record. Gorham School District is not responsible for providing physical examinations for students. Gorham Schools Athletic Department requires a physical every 2 years in grades 6-12 for any student participating in a school sport.
STUDENT HEALTH RECORDS
Student health information, both written and verbal, is confidential. Information will only be shared with individuals with a need to know to ensure the student's health and safety.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the health of your student please contact your school nurse.
updated 4/2023 nurses
JLCD
STUDENT MEDICATION POLICY
The Gorham School Committee is committed to ensuring the safety of all students who may require medications at school. To ensure safe practice this medication policy was developed with the intention of keeping students requiring essential medications in school without placing undue burden upon those responsible for their care.
Medications will not be administered without the written consent of both the parent and the student’s physician. The physician should concur that the administration of a medication during school hours is necessary for the health of the student.
The physician order must include:
∙ the medication, route, and dosage
∙ frequency
∙ the length of time to administer the medication (no longer than the current school year)
∙ medication side effects
∙ the medical personnel to notify in case of an untoward effect of the medication
In the interest of maintaining students’ health, nurses may ask the parent to seek a physician’s advice if the use of over-the-counter medication is prolonged or may be inappropriate.
Adopted: December 8, 1999
Amended: May 10, 2017
Reviewed: February 16, 2022
Request for School Personnel to Administer Medication
To be completed by the physician/dentist:
Student’s Name____________________________________________ Date of birth_________
Telephone___________________________
Allergies____________________________
Name of Medication_______________________________________
Dosage_________________________________________________
Time to administer_________________________________________
Physician’s Name__________________________________________
Telephone________________________________________________
Reason for Medication (diagnosis)_____________________________
Side Effects_______________________________________________
Termination Date___________________________________________
I understand that school employees are not medically trained personnel and that a school nurse is not available to give individual nursing attention at all times during the school day. However, the above-named student is in need of the medication during school hours to maintain his/her health. In my opinion, his/her need for the medication is so important that, if the school nurse is not available, I advise and request that non-medical school personnel dispense this medication in accordance with the above instructions.
In the event of side effects, school officials should take the following action:
____________________________________________________________________________
Physician Signature____________________________________Date____________________
To be completed by a parent/guardian:
I understand that school employees are not medically trained personnel and that a school nurse is not available to give individual nursing attention at all times during the school day. With full knowledge of this, I hereby request and give my consent to have the medication specified above administered by the school nurse or by other non-medical personnel designated by the school principal in accordance with the instructions of the physician as stated above.
Parent/Guardian Signature______________________________________Date_____________________
Revised: 5/18 nurses, 2/22 nurses, 4/23 nurses