General Information and Hours

The Health Office is open from 8:25 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. each school day. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school nurse or health assistant. The direct line to the Health office is 602-336-2656.

School Nurse

Treatment Of Student Illnesses And Injuries

1. All parents must complete a pink student emergency information card, at the beginning of each school year and upon entrance of a new student to the Alhambra School District.  Please keep your emergency card current and notify the office of any changes.
2. Students who complain of illness or who vary from their normal behavior patterns are to be referred to school health services personnel.  Students are not permitted to participate in physical education or sports activities when they are not in appropriate physical condition or exhibiting signs of possible illness.
3. Students who have sustained injuries of any consequence are given emergency treatment and referred immediately to their appropriate primary care provider or the nearest hospital emergency room as deemed appropriate.
4. Parents are to be notified whenever students need to be referred for medical attention.
5. The fire department (paramedic staff) is to be called in the event of any critical illness or injury.  All efforts will be made to notify parents in critical or emergency situations but the institution of lifesaving measures, including telephone calls for paramedics and ambulances, will be of first priority.
6. All school personnel are required to report all injuries, sexual molestation, death, abuse, or physical neglect which appears to have been inflicted upon a student by other than accidental means or which is not explained by the available medical history as being accidental in nature to a municipal or county police officer or to Child Protective Services as a means of maintaining compliance with Arizona Revised Statutes (#13-3620).  This mandate is not discretionary.  The school employee who personally observes suspected non-accidental injuries or physical neglect shall make the required reports or cause them to be made.  The responsibility of the principal or other authorized person in his/her absence is to assist facilitating compliance with the law.

Emergency Information

It is of vital importance to keep the student’s emergency card current.  The following information is provided on the emergency cards:

1. Current home address and telephone  number - or the telephone number of closest neighbor who will contact the parent.
2. Place of employment and phone number of both parents/guardians.
3. Name of a person who is responsible for child in the event parents cannot be located immediately if an emergency occurs.

Ailments such as diabetes, epilepsy, cardiac diseases, asthma, and allergies are some of the diseases that should be noted on health records and discussed with the health assistant at your local school.

It is important that you update your yellow and pink information card in order to keep pick-up adults current.

 Immunizations

Arizona Revised Statue 15-803 requires the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis of a child to provide the school with an immunization history at the time of enrollment.  This history includes the month, day, and year for each vaccination.  Parents must show proof of immunizations; and, children will not be permitted to attend classes until the immunization history has been provided.

Medication

A physician must authorize all prescription medication.  Medication must be in the original container.  The container must be clearly labeled.  Medication must be brought to the school by the parent or other parent-designated adult.  Along with a physician’s written order, there must be parental written permission for each prescription medication.  Students are not allowed to carry medication to administer to themselves, except for an asthma inhaler or an Epi-pen as directed to do so by a physician.  Teachers are not permitted to hold or administer medication to students at school.

Administering Medicines to Students

It is the policy of the Alhambra Elementary School District that all children’s medication be administered by a parent at home.  Under exceptional circumstances, medication may be administered by school personnel.

If under exceptional circumstances, a child is required to take oral medication during school hours and the parent cannot be at school to administer the medication, only the designated person will administer the medication in compliance with the regulations.  Medication to be administered to the student during the school day should be in the original, properly-labeled container along with directions the parent wishes the health services assistant to follow.

1. Written instructions, using the appropriate form, signed by the parent, and if prescription, by the physician as well:

• Child’s name
• Name of medication
• Time to be administered
• Dosage

2.      The school designated person will:

• Keep a record of the administration of medication
• Keep the medication in a locked cabinet

3.      The parents of the child must assume responsibility for informing the school of any change in the child's health or change in medication.

4.      The school district retains the discretion to reject requests for the administration of medications.

5.      A copy of this regulation will be provided to parents upon their request.

6.      Phone permission from the parent for the administration of over-the-counter medication such as Tylenol, may be obtained by the school personnel.

7.      Students are not allowed to carry medication to administer themselves.  Cough drops are not allowed at school as well.

Pediculosis (Lice)

Pediculosis is defined as lice or lice eggs (nits).  The symptoms of lice are itching and/or the presence of lice and nits on hairy parts of the body, particularly on the head and neck.

Children with lice/eggs shall be excluded until treatment has been accomplished in accordance with recommendations from the Maricopa County Health Department.  Children with symptoms of reinfestation shall be excluded from school attendance until recommended treatment has been repeated.  Generally, reasonable absence due to lice should not exceed 3 to 5 days.   School outbreaks, or reinfestation of individual children, shall be reported to the Department.

Communicable Diseases

Any student having or suspected of having a communicable disease as defined by Maricopa County Health Department shall be excluded from school for the period of time recommended by the Department of Health.

Decisions regarding the type of educational setting for the pupil who is infected with a communicable disease shall be based upon the behavior, neurologic development, and physical condition of the child.  The Superintendent shall decide appropriate education placement after reviewing the recommendation of the Director of Special Services.  The recommendation will be based on consultation with public health personnel, school officials, the pupil’s physician, and parents