INFIRMARY HOURS
The infirmary is open daily from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. If I am off campus, a
sign on the infirmary door will direct students. Usually students will report
to the main office and Ms. Jewell will assist them. My scheduled lunch is
12:30 PM to 1:15 PM - but I remain on campus and available for emergencies. I
ask that routine health concerns by addressed at another time. Students and
parents are always welcome to come by the infirmary; however, students are
encouraged to come before, after, or during lunch unless they are ill to
maximize class time. A pass is required.
MEDICATION POLICY
New Hanovers County Board of Education Policy does not permit students to
carry medications with them to school. However, those medications needed in
the daily care of a student with diabetes, asthma, or those students subject
to an anaphylactic reaction may carry their medications with them. All other
medications must be under lock and key with the nurse.
Students who need to take medications at school, must have completed either a
physician's authorization form, or an over the counter parental permission
form. Both forms require a parent or guardian signature. A prescription must
be in the bottle from the pharmacy and must have a label that matches the
mediation authorization form. Over the counter medication must be in an
original unopened bottle. Only a parent or guardian may transport medication
to and from the school.
Please see the nurse if you have any questions about medications at school.
PASSES / IDS
If a student is ill and must come to the infirmary during class time a pass
is REQUIRED. Per New Hanover County Board policy students are to wear their
ID's when they come to the nurse. This helps me learn the students name and
associate the students name with their health concern. In this manner I can
be of quicker assistance to them in an emergency. However, if a student is
having a true medical emergency (difficulty breathing, bleeding, or severe
injury) or in a physical education class a pass is not needed. If the student
is able to return to their PE class a pass will be given at that time.
NUTRITION / HYDRATION
Encourage your student to eat breakfast and lunch each day. We are very
fortunate at the high school to have several main meal choices, sandwiches
and salads to choose from. Students who have last lunch are especially
encouraged to eat something before school. Waiting till 1:20 PM to eat is a
long time to expect their body and brains to perform without being fed. Snack
machines are not open till the completion of last lunch at 2 PM. If a student
arrives late or forgets to eat, a fruit basket is available in the cafteria
each day at no charge to the student. A pass is required to get something
from the fruit basket. This is an attempt by the school system for every
student to start the day with something in their stomach and to promote 5 a
day of fruits and vegetables.
In addition to eating on a regular basis, students are encouraged to drink
water / fluids each day. Heat and humidity can pull fluids from the body. By
the time our body recognizes it is thristy, we are already starting to
dehydrate. A mild headache is a very common, classic sign of dehydration.
ATTENDANCE
Students who attend school regularly learn best. If your child has an acute
or chronic health problem, please contact the nurse. Routine physician,
dentist, orthrodontist, and other appointments should be made on a workday if
possible or before or after school.This will help minimize the time away from
school.
For our female students, an extra set of clothes keep at school may help
eliminate the need to go home to change due to unexpected female issues. Also
female students who miss one or more days a month due to menstrual cycle
discomfort, should consider a medical evaluation. Many options are available
to help make the menstrual cycle less severee and painful.
ELEVATOR / BUILDING SIZE
Mobility issues regarding fractures/crutches/muscular dystrophy, extra time
between classes, etc need to be discussed with the nurse. Students are not to
use the steps if they are on crutches. This is a safety issue. Also, crutches
or wheelchairs should only be used with a doctor's order and will not be
provided by the nurse.
EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS
Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are done for any chronic (long term) or acute
(short term) health condition. The EAP contains information about the health
issue, symptoms that are specific to the student, interventions, and
emergency contact phone numbers.
EAPs are updated annually in the fall of the school year and when needed to
reflect changes in a student's condition. Please contact / update the nurse
for any chronic medical condition.
EAPs are also completed for acute medical problems - such as a car accident,
sports injury, hospitalization, or pregnancy. The goal of an EAP in this case
is to assist the student to transition back to school or to remain in school
as long as possible. Accomdations can be made to make the school day more
manageable.
CHRONIC CONDITIONS RELATED TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES
Successful completion of a physical education and health class is required to
graduate from high school. The curriculum for this course is established by
the North Carolina standard course of study. Therefore, teachers are unable
to modify the course requirements based on student or parent request. If a
student has a chronic or acute medical condition and a modification is
needed, this must be specifically written in a healthcare providors note. The
note must be detailed and specific - example note would be as follows, "John
Doe has asthma - he may walk only 2 miles a day. No running allowed. Inhaler
to be used before and after exercise or John Doe has a fractured tibia/
fibula and cannot run or walk in PE but he can do abdominal curls and arm
curls" The expectation would still be for the student to "change out" each
day and to participate or do other assignments as assigned by the PE
teacher.
