INFIRMARY HOURS The infirmary is open daily from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. If I am off campus, a sign on the infirmary door will direct students. Usually students will report to the main office and Ms. Jewell will assist them. My scheduled lunch is 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM - but I remain on campus and available for emergencies. I ask that routine health concerns by addressed at another time. Students and parents are always welcome to come by the infirmary; however, students are encouraged to come before, after, or during lunch unless they are ill to maximize class time. A pass is required. MEDICATION POLICY New Hanovers County Board of Education Policy does not permit students to carry medications with them to school. However, those medications needed in the daily care of a student with diabetes, asthma, or those students subject to an anaphylactic reaction may carry their medications with them. All other medications must be under lock and key with the nurse. Students who need to take medications at school, must have completed either a physician's authorization form, or an over the counter parental permission form. Both forms require a parent or guardian signature. A prescription must be in the bottle from the pharmacy and must have a label that matches the mediation authorization form. Over the counter medication must be in an original unopened bottle. Only a parent or guardian may transport medication to and from the school. Please see the nurse if you have any questions about medications at school. PASSES / IDS If a student is ill and must come to the infirmary during class time a pass is REQUIRED. Per New Hanover County Board policy students are to wear their ID's when they come to the nurse. This helps me learn the students name and associate the students name with their health concern. In this manner I can be of quicker assistance to them in an emergency. However, if a student is having a true medical emergency (difficulty breathing, bleeding, or severe injury) or in a physical education class a pass is not needed. If the student is able to return to their PE class a pass will be given at that time. NUTRITION / HYDRATION Encourage your student to eat breakfast and lunch each day. We are very fortunate at the high school to have several main meal choices, sandwiches and salads to choose from. Students who have last lunch are especially encouraged to eat something before school. Waiting till 1:20 PM to eat is a long time to expect their body and brains to perform without being fed. Snack machines are not open till the completion of last lunch at 2 PM. If a student arrives late or forgets to eat, a fruit basket is available in the cafteria each day at no charge to the student. A pass is required to get something from the fruit basket. This is an attempt by the school system for every student to start the day with something in their stomach and to promote 5 a day of fruits and vegetables. In addition to eating on a regular basis, students are encouraged to drink water / fluids each day. Heat and humidity can pull fluids from the body. By the time our body recognizes it is thristy, we are already starting to dehydrate. A mild headache is a very common, classic sign of dehydration. ATTENDANCE Students who attend school regularly learn best. If your child has an acute or chronic health problem, please contact the nurse. Routine physician, dentist, orthrodontist, and other appointments should be made on a workday if possible or before or after school.This will help minimize the time away from school. For our female students, an extra set of clothes keep at school may help eliminate the need to go home to change due to unexpected female issues. Also female students who miss one or more days a month due to menstrual cycle discomfort, should consider a medical evaluation. Many options are available to help make the menstrual cycle less severee and painful. ELEVATOR / BUILDING SIZE Mobility issues regarding fractures/crutches/muscular dystrophy, extra time between classes, etc need to be discussed with the nurse. Students are not to use the steps if they are on crutches. This is a safety issue. Also, crutches or wheelchairs should only be used with a doctor's order and will not be provided by the nurse. EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS Emergency Action Plans (EAPs) are done for any chronic (long term) or acute (short term) health condition. The EAP contains information about the health issue, symptoms that are specific to the student, interventions, and emergency contact phone numbers. EAPs are updated annually in the fall of the school year and when needed to reflect changes in a student's condition. Please contact / update the nurse for any chronic medical condition. EAPs are also completed for acute medical problems - such as a car accident, sports injury, hospitalization, or pregnancy. The goal of an EAP in this case is to assist the student to transition back to school or to remain in school as long as possible. Accomdations can be made to make the school day more manageable. CHRONIC CONDITIONS RELATED TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES Successful completion of a physical education and health class is required to graduate from high school. The curriculum for this course is established by the North Carolina standard course of study. Therefore, teachers are unable to modify the course requirements based on student or parent request. If a student has a chronic or acute medical condition and a modification is needed, this must be specifically written in a healthcare providors note. The note must be detailed and specific - example note would be as follows, "John Doe has asthma - he may walk only 2 miles a day. No running allowed. Inhaler to be used before and after exercise or John Doe has a fractured tibia/ fibula and cannot run or walk in PE but he can do abdominal curls and arm curls" The expectation would still be for the student to "change out" each day and to participate or do other assignments as assigned by the PE teacher.