Health Services Health Screening -
Vision and hearing screening of all kindergartners, third graders, and newly
enrolled Fairfax County students is conducted each fall by the public health
nurse and clinic volunteers. This is only a cursory check; it cannot be
assumed that all vision and hearing problems will be detected. Parents should
continually be alert to identify vision or hearing difficulties which indicate
need for examination by a specialist.
Clinic -
Clinic services in the school, including the administration of medication
and modified first aid, are performed by the clinic aide, parent volunteers,
and office staff. In accordance with Fairfax County Public School Regulation
2102, no medication of any type may be given in the schools unless it
meets certain criteria as specified in the policy. If your child needs
to have a medication administered during the school day, you are advised
to check with the school office regarding the proper procedure. As set
forth jointly by the State Department of Health and Education, the clinic
staff may provide care only for minor illnesses and injuries. If the child's
condition requires more attention, the parent will be contacted. It is
important that the parent return the Emergency Care Form to the school
at the beginning of each year with the correct telephone numbers for the
parent and other emergency contact persons. Please keep these numbers
current in the school office if changes occur during the school year.
Contagious Illnesses -
The objective of the communicable disease policy for Fairfax County Public
Schools is to control and manage student exposure to contagious diseases.
All children with symptoms of disease such as rashes or skin eruptions
of any type, watery and inflamed eyes, fever, sore throat, vomiting or
diarrhea, etc., should stay home until the doctor evaluates their symptoms
and determines whether or not they are contagious. The Fairfax County
Department of Health recommends that a child remain home fever-free for
24 hours after an illness prior to returning to school. Parents will be
contacted and expected to take their child home if the student is sent
to school with symptoms of disease, becomes sick, or develops a rash.
This policy is designed to protect your child against unnecessary exposure
to disease. Because some rashes, pink eye, impetigo, ringworm and scabies
can be highly contagious illnesses, the school must require a note from
the physician for any child with a contagious illness, stating that the
child is not contagious, before the child can return to school. Please
notify the school office if your child should contract chicken pox, strep
throat, measles, head lice, or other contagious illness. This information
will help us monitor the classroom situation. Fairfax County Public Schools
follows the Code of Virginia requirements in matters relating to health.
Assistance will be sought from the Fairfax County Department of Health
to interpret the state regulations as they may relate to the attendance
of a student suffering from a contagious disease. All decisions will be
made on a case-by-case basis.
Requests by Pediatricians and Private Practitioners
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To request that school personnel complete forms or checklists for pediatricians
or other private practitioners, the following procedures will be followed:
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A Release of Information Form must
be signed by the parent. The release may be obtained by the private
practitioner and mailed directly to the school.
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The forms will be completed and mailed
directly to the requesting office. If the parent prefers, the forms
will be enclosed in a sealed envelope for parent delivery to the practitioner.
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The private practitioner may then interpret
the data for parents within the context of his/her evaluation process.
Optional Insurance: Accidental and Dental -
Student accident and dental insurance policies are available throughout
the year. Forms are sent home at the beginning of the school year or
upon enrollment mid-year.
Medication at School -
Students may not take medication at school, including throat lozenges
and nasal spray, except under the strict supervision of an adult and
in accordance with School Board guidelines. Forms are available from
the clinic or office staff which communicate the directions under which
the student is able to take medication during the school day. Parents
may authorize the school to administer over-the-counter medication for
3 days or less, or an antibiotic for less than 10 days. In other instances,
a physician's order is also required.
Authorization of Medication (Regulation 2102.2) includes
the following important information:
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The parent or guardian must transport
the medication to school
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Physician samples must be appropriately
labeled by the physician, to include required information.
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The first dose of any new medication
must be given at home.
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The parent or guardian is responsible
for submitting a new form to the school each time there is a change
in the dosage or in the time at which the medication is to be taken.
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All medication kept in the school
will be stored in a locked area accessible only to authorized personnel.
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Within one week after expiration of
the effective date on the physician order, the parent or guardian
must personally collect any unused portion of the medication. Medications
not claimed within that period will be destroyed.
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Evidence that the student is being
monitored by a physician is required every six months for psychostimulants,
antipsychotic, antidepressants, anxiolytics, and seizure medication.
(Orders renewing these medicines may be dated up to 60 days prior
to the beginning of the semester.)
The Fairfax County Health Department and the Fairfax County
Public Schools do not assume responsibility for unauthorized medication
taken independently by the student himself or herself.
