School Health Services
School is a Healthy environment. The nurse promotes a positive wellness environment to give each student the best possible opportunity to learn and reach their potential. The nurse is the consultant for students, parents and educational staff members concerning health issues and problems. He or she may, at times, recommend further medical followup when a health problem is suspected.

The Health Center provides first aide and medical care primarily for illness or injuries that occur during the school day. It is not a primary care facility like a doctor's office. The nurse is, however qualified to collaborate with you and your child's physician to provide an educational environment in which your child can learn and thrive. While the nurse does not make a medical diagnosis or prescribe medication or treatment, medication and treatment prescribed by a physician may be given in the health office.

 

Disease Prevention/Immunizations
 Written proof of compliance with immunization requirements is a part of the registration process in Arizona Schools. State and Federal Law mandates that school-age children be immunized to prevent certain diseases. If you are unsure of the requirements for Immunization, see your doctor, visit the School Health Center or call the Maricopa County Health Dept at (602) 506-6767 or (602) 263-8856 for locations of clinics and hours of operation. Immunizations are free of charge for children under the age of 18. Exemptions forms are available form the nurse.

Parent and Emergency Contacts/Health History

 Parents are required to complete Emergency Contact and Health History Forms for each of their children every year. These forms contain vital information should your child becomes ill or injured at school. Students will be released to ONLY those persons indicated on the form. Photo ID is required to pick up any child during the day at school.

Student Illness
 If a student feels ill during the school day, they should report their complaint to the classroom teacher for referral to the nurse. Students are not to contact their parents directly via cell phone regarding illness unless prior arrangements have been made with the nurse. Please keep your child home if they have fever, diarrhea, vomiting, deep cough, or a potentially communicable disease. Children with a fever of 100 degrees or more must be fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medications before returning to school. If your child has been diagnosed with contagious illness, please contact the Health Center so parents of other students in the class can be notified. Please call your child's doctor for advice on an ill child. Do not send ill students to school to be evaluated by the nurse.

 In compliance with ARS 15-344 and ARS 32-1901, over-the-counter medications are not available in the Health Center. Tylenol, ibuprofen, Calamine, Neosporin, topical or oral Benadryl, cough drops, antacids or any like remedies are not stocked. Students are not permitted to have medication in their possession at any time without a specific prior written arrangment with the nurse.

Prescription medications must be in an original prescription container labeled for the student with a current date. The label must state directions that coincide with the request being made by the parent.

Over-the-counter Medications needed by students during the school day must be checked in to the Health Center by a parent/guardian. Requests must be in agreement with the manufacturer's directions or have a superseding physician's order. Herbal preparations must have a doctor's order. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to pick up any unused or discontinued medications promptly from the health center. At the end of the school year, any medication remaining in the Health Center will be discarded.

PE Excuses
 Students requesting to be excused from P.E. must bring a note signed by their parent to the Nurse. The Nurse will then write an "excused from P.E." pass for the student to take to P.E. Any request for an excuse for three or more PE classes must be accompanied by a Physician's written order. All injuries requiring any type of orthopedic support or device on campus must be reported with a medical excuse and cleared through the Health Center.

Chronic Health Conditions
 If your child has been diagnosed with a chronic health condition, please contact the nurse immediately. He or she will inform you of the DVUSD protocols/procedures necessary to ensure a healthy and safe environment for your child during the school day.