Health

This guide will help you make decisions for your child during cold/flu season as well as some other helpful tips!

If you have specific questions, please reach out to our school nurse, Madison Hall to answer your questions. You can reach her by phone (605) 362-3560 or by email: Madison.Hall@k12.sd.us

The following health guidelines are provided by the Sioux Falls School District. As always, please consult with your primary doctor with questions about your child's health.

The common cold presents the most frequent problem since it's easily transmitted from student to student. A student with a mild cold will be permitted to stay in school. A student with a "heavy" cold and a hacking cough should be kept home even if they do not have a fever.

Exclude while symptomatic only if student is unable to practice independent hygiene.

Students with illness vomiting should be kept home. A student should be free from vomiting for 12 hours before returning to school. If your student has illness related vomiting at school, he/she will be sent home.

A student with a sore throat accompanied by a fever should be seen by a health care provider. A student with a sore throat and fever should not be sent to school and will be sent home from school if it occurs during school hours.

For forms and details regarding medication administration in school please refer to the Sioux Falls School District website (linked at the bottom of this SMORE).

Open sores need special attention. There are a variety of contagious skin infections that require medical treatment before a student can attend school. Students with open sores and a suspected contagious illness will be sent home.

A fever is a warning that something is not right with the body. The best way to check for a fever is

with a thermometer. A student with a fever over 100.4 degrees shall not be sent to school. If

your student has a fever of 100.4 degrees at school, he/she will be sent home. A student must stay home until the fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

A rash may be the first sign of communicable disease, such as chicken pox. A rash or "spots" may cover the entire body or may appear in only one area. If your student has an undiagnosed rash, you should have them seen by a health care provider. Students with suspected contagious rashes will be sent home from school.

A variety of other conditions (head lice, scabies, flu, etc.) may require special health care. When you suspect or know your student has a contagious illness, we appreciate your sharing that information with us, so we can act appropriately. Please see these SD DOH guidelines for further information.

Seasonal colds, flu and other respiratory illnesses are unwelcome interruptions to our lives. Encourage your child to practice the following tips to protect their health:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick. Don’t share food and drinks with others.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Help keep germs from circulating- cover your nose with a tissue when sneezing and dispose of the tissues properly. When coughing, cover your mouth with your arm, not your hand.
• Wash your hands periodically with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when you’re not near a sink.
• Avoid touching your face. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, manage stress and eat nutritious foods.
• Get a flu vaccine, it’s not too late! If you have questions about how / where to get your child vaccinated, contact the school nurse.

If you would like your child to have cough drops during the school day, you must complete the form below and return to the school prior to your child having cough drops. You should then only send enough cough drops for 1 day with your child. The school nurse keeps track of students who have had this permission form signed.

Purpose & mission: The Sioux Falls School District School Nurses will provide exceptional healthcare to students as a foundation for the best learning experience.

Visit the link below to access the SFSD Health Services department as well as helpful links including special diets, medication summary chart, head lice guidelines, and more!