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Welcome To The Health Suite
The Bridge Center has a full time nurse practitioner who is available to all faculty, students, staff and families. My name is Susan Shafer and I am here everyday to help our students remain healthy so they can be successful in school. There are several things I would like for you to know in order to help me to help your child to be successful and healthy in school.
Maryland law is very clear that a student is to be in school everyday that school is in session. However, illness does happen, and in order to keep other students and staff healthy, it may be necessary to keep your child home. Here are some general guidelines to help you to determine if your child is too ill for school.
- Temperature- If your child’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher, they should remain at home until the temperature is below 100 degrees for 24 hours without medication.
- If your child vomits and the reason is unclear as to the cause, or they continue not to feel well, keep your child home until they can keep food and liquid down.
- Diarrhea- A child should be kept home if more than 2 episodes of diarrhea occur.
- Asthma episodes- If your child is controlled with home medication, please contact the nurse to let her know of the episode so your child can be monitored. If wheezing continues even with medication, keep your child home and contact the doctor. If your child needs medication kept in school, a provider’s order is required and must be renewed every school year on a BCPS form. It is recommended that students with asthma carry an epi-pen. An order is needed for this as well in addition to the family getting the epi-pen.
- Colds/sore throat/ear complaints- Take your child’s temperature and keep them home if it’s over 100 degrees. If complaints persist for more than a day, you may want to contact your child’s primary care provider.
- Red/pink, crusty, eye- If you see these signs combined with an inability to open the eye by itself (it’s “stuck shut”), keep your child home and have them seen by their primary care provider as soon as possible.
- Any unexplained rash or other unusual symptoms, especially a rash with a fever, please contact your medical provider.
These precautions are necessary to protect other students and staff as well as to help your child return to school as soon as they are not contagious. Notes from the provider can be sent to school and a parent note is required for every day that a child is absent. If you are not sure whether to send your child to school, please contact the nurse practitioner, or come to school with your child to have the child evaluated.
EMERGENCY CONTACTS It is absolutely vital that current phone numbers be on file with both the nurse and the front office. If you are not available to pick up your child during the day, at least two emergency contacts must be provided. The school is not equipped to care for an injured or ill child for several hours. In case of an emergency requiring hospital care, we will make every attempt possible to contact you ahead of time. If, however, it is not possible to reach you, a school staff person will accompany your child to the emergency room.
HEALTH RECORDS Every child has a health file which may be updated at any time. Please notify the nurse of new or changed medications, new diagnosis, surgeries, hearing or vision updates, new immunizations, allergies, or any changes.
CHANGE OF CLOTHING Every student is requested to bring a complete change of clothes. Students have spills, hygiene issues, tears and bathroom accidents and will be more comfortable if their clothes are dry and intact. Otherwise they may miss time from instruction while they wait for clothes to be brought to school, or from being distracted by their clothes being uncomfortable. Clothing is not kept in the health suite. It’s most helpful if tops, pants, underwear and socks are provided, and changed to be seasonally appropriate.
HEAD LICE POLICY
An unfortunate part of child hood is the appearance of head lice. Another reason to keep your child home would be if live lice are observed in your child’s hair. The child must be treated before they can return to school. Please contact the nurse to report the incident. Your child will be checked for 2 weeks to ensure that nits are being removed and no new lice are seen. . If you are aware of any close contacts, please give those names as well. Names are never given out. Every child should be re-treated after 1 week. Instructions as to home and environment procedures will be sent home along with a checklist to ensure all bases are covered. Children may remain in school as long as the nits (eggs) are decreasing in number, and no new nits appear. Removal of all nits is strongly encouraged.
The flu season is expected to be a busy one. Please teach your child good cough and sneeze hygiene. Learning to cough and sneeze into your elbow as opposed to the hands is highly recommended to control illness. Good hand washing is stressed as well. The use of soap and water is preferable to hand sanitizers. If you use a hand sanitizer, it should be at least 60% alcohol.
If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, they should be kept out of school and public areas. They may return to school if they have been fever free (under 100 degrees) for 24 hours without the use of medication. As always, contact your healthcare provider with any questions.
Wellness Center
Students can be seen for illness, chronic health conditions, immunizations and to make referrals as needed. Your health insurance may be charged, but you will not receive a bill. To make inquiries and/or schedule an appointment, please call 410-887-4456.
Helpful Links
www.deltadentalnj.com - click on Kid’s Club
www.epa.gov/sunwise
www.foodsafety.gov
www.healthfinder.gov
www.healthydiningfinder.com
www.kidnetic.com
www.latherupforgoodhealth.com
www.aafa.org
www.colgate.com - click on For Children
www.chadd.org
www.checkyearly.com
www.aanma.org
www.dolesuperkids.com
www.freebreather.com
Susan Shafer
School Nurse/Nurse Practitioner
Hours: Each school day 7:30 to 2:30
410.887.4456
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