Health Office

Guidelines for Students with Symptoms of Illness

Parent Information
In order to protect the health of all students and staff at school and prevent the spread of illness, the Chart (on the following page) from the TUSD Health Services department is provided to help parents determine when to keep a student with symptoms home from school. If your student has symptoms at school, school personnel will evaluate the student to determine if he/she should remain in school. (California Code of Regulations, Title 17, Public Health 2526).

Please be certain that your child’s Online “Emergency” Card lists at least one adult living in the area who would be willing to assume responsibility for your sick or injured child during school hours. Also, we recommend that you check with local hospitals regarding pre-arranged programs at their locations to care for ill children.

Symptom

Keep Your Child

Home If:

May Return to

School When:

Fever

Student currently has a fever (temperature > 101 degrees F) or has had a fever in the last 24 hours

He/she has been fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication like Tylenol or Advil

Runny Nose

Excessive drainage or thick, dark mucous

Symptoms resolved or released by physician

Cough

Persistent cough, coughing up phlegm, cough sounds like a bark or is accompanied by a sore throat or wheezing

Symptoms resolved or released by physician (unless associated with a known health condition, i.e. asthma)

Sore Throat

Sore throat with tender swollen glands or fever

Symptoms resolved or released by physician.  If strep throat, 24 hours after antibiotic has been started

Nausea,

Vomiting, or Diarrhea

Two or more episodes of vomiting or diarrhea, or has had one in the past 24 hours and feels tired or ill

Symptom free for 24 hours

Rash

If the rash blisters, develops pus or is uncomfortable, accompanied by fever, behavioral change, or suspicious for communicable disease (i.e. chicken pox, measles)

When released by physician

Eyes with Redness, Itching, Pain, Swelling, or Discharge

Pink or red conjunctiva (whites of the eyes) with white or yellow eye mucous drainage (LAUSD)

Symptoms resolved or released by physician.  After treatment has begun if diagnosis is bacterial conjunctivitis

Student Health and Medication

These policies are for the protection of all children.

Casts, Braces, Splints:
Children wearing casts, braces, and/or splints may only be re-admitted to school with the three following clearances:
  1. Notes from family physician indicating extent of injury and restrictions of   physical activities.
  2. Written release by parent.
  3. Approval of the principal.

* Students wearing casts or braces must remain at the lunch benches or school office during recess and lunches.

Policies Regarding Medication at School

According to the California State Education Code, definite procedures must be followed with regard to taking medication, including over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, at school.

Policy Statement
The purpose of allowing medication to be taken by pupils at school is to help provide for their general welfare by following the instructions of their physicians. It shall be the school’s responsibility to provide reasonable and prudent supervision while the pupil takes the medication. It shall be the pupil’s (parent’s) responsibility to take the prescribed medication in accordance with their physician’s instructions.

Any pupil who is required to take medication during the school day must present:

  • A written statement from the physician stating the time, amount and method by which medication is to be taken. If the medicine is in a prescription bottle with all the information and instructions, a physician’s note is not necessary.
  • A written statement from the parent or guardian of the pupil granting that the physician’s orders be carried out.

This policy applies to all medicine, including cough drops and aspirin. Any medication that is brought to school must be properly labeled and accompanied by the required form.

All medication must be brought to the office. No medication is to be kept in the classroom, lunch box, or backpack. It is the student’s responsibility to come to the office to take the medication at the designated times. A parent or guardian may come to the school and give it to the child directly under the supervision of the health office.

The Health Office is open daily and our Health Clerks are Tralelda Chase and Gina Hollandsworth (x-2583).

If your child needs medicine at school, please bring the medication to the health office and complete the following form(s):

  • Authorization for Medicine at School
  • Physician's Authorization for Management of Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-injector Administration at School

If you are interested in health insurance through Covered California or Medi-Cal, please view the flyer for more information: