Illnesses/Injuries At School- Our primary goal is to protect the health of our students, families, faculty and staff.  Ways that you can help to minimize the spread of illness at your child’s school are:

1. Teach your child about good hand washing and cough hygiene practices.
2. Let the school nurse know if your child has a medical condition that could make them more susceptible to becoming ill.
3. Discuss with your doctor additional measures that might reduce your families chance of becoming ill. Consult your school nurse about upcoming school based illness prevention programs and partnerships.
4. Plan for how your child will be cared for if they need to remain home from school due to illness. Students with the following symptoms should remain home or  may be sent home from school:
   • An oral temperature of 100 degrees  Fahrenheit. Note: The child’s temperature must remain below 100 degrees for 24 hours without benefit of use of fever reducing medications before they can return to school.
   • Vomiting- should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.
   • Diarrhea- should be free of symptom for 24 hours before returning to school.
   • Persistent nasal congestion, reddened eyes, sore throat, cough or headaches that disrupt the student’s learning or pose a risk of disease transmission to others.
   • Unexplained skin eruptions or rashes. When in doubt, consult your child’s doctor.
   • Any other health condition that in the school nurses judgment is of concern for the others health and wellbeing and that of the child.
   • Communicable illnesses in which you have been advised to remain out of school until cleared to return by the county health department or your child’s doctor.

The school nurse or other school representative will contact you if your child becomes ill or seriously injured at school. If a parent cannot be reached, other individuals listed on the emergency form will be contacted. For the child’s safety, students will be released only to adults whose names appear on the emergency form. It is very important that you notify school when there are changes to emergency contacts of health care providers. Children should not attend school if they have had diarrhea or vomiting the past 24 hours, or have and an undiagnosed rash, or have an uncontrolled cough. Your child’s temperature should be maintained without the benefit of medication under 100 degrees for 24 hours before returning to school.

To minimize the spread of illness among students, report communicable diseases such as influenza, measles, whooping cough, hepatitis A, tuberculosis, chickenpox etc. to the school nurse immediately.

For more information contact your school nurse or visit the Polk County Health Department’s website.

Student Accident Insurance

Parents are responsible for their children’s medical costs even if the child is injured while at school. The school does not carry individual accident insurance on students. If you are interested in information regarding how you can personally obtain student accident insurance, please call the Health Services department at the DMPS Administrative Offices at 242-7618.