From the Health Office

WELCOME BACK! We are already in full swing, WOW! We are reviewing student records and may contact you for additional information regarding health conditions and updates to doctor orders or immunizations. Please note, Colorado State requires yearly signature for exemptions on all immunizations. Please submit records for shots received at well child checks to keep accurate and complete records. We are always obliged to honor that request from parents. We ask that these be submitted as soon as possible to the start of the school year in case we have an outbreak, parents/guardians of non-vaccinated students can be alerted so necessary precautions can be taken. Please remember that students carrying medications need to have orders with parent and/or doctor’s permission as well as a carry contract with the parent, the student, and the RN for everything from prescription daily life saving medications, inhalers, and epi pens to tylenol or claritin.  
Guidelines for illness. Sometimes it is hard to know when your child should not come to school due to illness. Here are some of the top reasons why your child should stay home from school or may be sent home from school. 
Fever ** If your child has a fever of 100° or above, along with other symptoms such as a rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, behavior changes, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, cough, stuffy nose/congestion, or flu-like symptoms. 
If your child has a fever of 101° or higher, with no other symptoms. 
If your child has a fever of 103° or higher, parents must pick up their child within 30 minutes **Your child should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone, without the use of medicine that reduces the fever (Tylenol or ibuprofen, Nyquil). Respiratory symptoms.
If your child is having severe or uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, rapid or difficulty breathing. Intestinal issues  If your child has diarrhea or frequent, loose or watery stools. This includes if your child looks or acts sick, or if the child is also vomiting. 
If your child has diarrhea that is unable to be contained.
 If you child has thrown up or vomited and feels ill, with or without stomach pains. 
Vomiting associated with a head injury. 
DO NOT MEDICATE THESE CONCERNS UNLESS DIRECTED BY A PHYSICIAN 
The easiest way to prevent illness and decrease the spread of germs is by handwashing. A person should wash their hands:
Before eating food After using the toilet 
After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
After touching garbage. 
Before, during, and after preparing food .
After being around someone who is sick. 
After touching money.
After touching an animal or picking up animal waste.  
 It is also encouraged to hang coats and remove outside shoes before entering the house and wearing a housecoat and house shoes when inside like Mr. Rogers! Please encourage your student not to share food, drinks, or personal items and limit touching of their face. Some illnesses improve or worsen during the course of the day while a child is recovering from an illness. If your child’s symptoms worsen while at school, you may be notified by the Health Office. Finally, if your student does contact you about illness, please have them go to the Health Office to wait for you to pick them up. This helps us track illness in the school and it helps you get your student to you faster. PLEASE feel free to contact the Health Office with any questions or concerns you may have for your student!