Health Office Procedures


Medications
Teachers are responsible for obtaining from parents the medical release forms signed by
a physician for any medication which their students may need.

All health and medical release forms can be downloaded from the Parents page.

The Health Coordinator will dispense all released medications. If a student brings a
medication without a medical release form, you will be responsible for contacting the
student’s parents and ensuring that the form is faxed to us immediately. (The number
of the fax machine is (209) 533-1390.) The first day is busy enough without you having
to call parents and doctors. To make your first day easier, please follow the Stanislaus
County Office of Education Guidelines for the Administration of Student Medication at
Foothill Horizons:

• All medications, including any over the counter cold remedies, Tylenol, ibuprofen,
cough drops or vitamins must be accompanied by the Parent Request for
Administration of Medication form. This form must be signed by the parent and
the child’s physician.

• Verify that the child’s medication and the Parent Request for Administration of
Medication form match in dosage amounts (including milligrams), number of times
given and name of medicine. The dosage on the medicine bottle and release must
match. Administration times must be noted on the release form.

• All medication must be submitted in its original container.

• Package each student’s medication in a clear, plastic bag along with the
medication form. Label the outside of the bag with the student’s name.

• Place the bagged medications in a box or bag labeled with your school’s name.
Turn this in to the health coordinator as soon as you arrive at Foothill Horizons.
Inappropriately submitted medications will be handed over to the students’
classroom teacher for follow up. The most common problem area teachers will be
asked to deal with is incomplete forms.
REMEMBER:

• A doctor’s signature is required for all medications, including any over the
counter medicines.

• The medical release form and the medicine must match: compare the medicine’s
name, including milligrams, the dosage, and the times indicated on the medicine
the form to verify that they are the same.

• The dosage must be specific, including milligrams, number of drops or teaspoons.

• Times that medicines are to be administered must be indicated on the release.

• No medication can be administered without a signed, complete form.
Please do not send your medication forms with your health forms prior to coming to
Foothill Horizons.


EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

A Foothill Horizons staff member will be on duty in the Health Office from 7:00 a.m. to
9:30 p.m. for any emergencies. The Health Coordinator is available
by phone after 9:30 p.m. for emergency assistance. Use the phone near the half-door in
the Health Office. The Health Coordinator’s phone number will be located on the board
above the phone. Medical attention for serious situations will be provided day or night
by hospitals in Sonora.
On your first day you will receive a Health Office tour showing you the locations of the
phone, emergency phone numbers, minor first aid supplies, student health forms and
insurance forms, and student medications.


THE HEALTH OFFICE

The Health Office is intended for administering care to sick people and for dispensing
medications. The Health Coordinator is not responsible for discipline problems, nor
should the office be used for discipline conferences if at all possible. Students that are
being isolated or removed from the program may sit in the director’s office during the
day; the students’ teacher is responsible for supervising the student in the evening.
Under NO circumstances shall the Health Coordinator supervise discipline problem
students overnight.
The center phone in the Health Office is available for your use in contacting parents of
students who have required discipline. Students are not allowed to use this or any
phone on campus. We want students to build a positive sense of self-reliance while at
Foothill Horizons and feel that to call home to their parents would detract from this.


STUDENTS STAYING IN THE HEALTH OFFICE OVERNIGHT
To protect both staff and students, teachers will be asked to assist in the overnight
supervision of students who must stay in the Health Office. It is extremely unusual for
this circumstance to arise.

CARING FOR STUDENTS WITH ASTHMA

Many students with asthma attend Foothill Horizons. The week at outdoor school is a
fantastic time for students to learn about science, self-reliance, and cooperation with
others. Parents of asthmatic students should be aware, however, that most students
will have a much higher than normal activity level while at Foothill Horizons, and that
they may be exposed to different types of pollen and other allergens than they
encounter at home. Here are a few guidelines for ensuring that your asthmatic student’s
week at outdoor school is a safe and positive experience:

• Students who have been diagnosed with asthma, have ever had an asthma attack, or
have ever needed an inhaler NEED TO BRING THEIR INHALER TO OUTDOOR
SCHOOL, even if they have not used it in a long time or do not seem to have asthma
any longer. Check with the child’s doctor if you have any questions about whether
your student needs to bring her/his inhaler to outdoor school.

• Inhalers, like all medications, need to be prescribed for the student by a doctor
(Foothill Horizons cannot allow students to use inhalers prescribed for a sibling or
parent), and must be listed on the Foothill Horizons Parent Request for Administration
of Medication form (make sure that this form is completed and signed by a doctor). If
the student uses several different types of inhalers, make sure that they are all listed on
the Parent Request for Administration of Medication form, and that the student brings
all of the inhalers to outdoor school.

• After verifying that the student’s inhaler is prescribed for the student and released by
a doctor, the Health Coordinator may give the student his/her inhaler to carry while at
outdoor school, depending on the type of inhaler. Students should bring an extra
inhaler, to be stored in the health office, in case of emergency.

• Students who use nebulizers need to know how to set up and use the nebulizer, and
detailed instructions about how to assist the student in setting up and using the
nebulizer need to be provided to Foothill Horizons staff. Please double check that all
parts and solutions necessary for use of the nebulizer are included and listed on the
Parent Request for Administration of Medication form.
 

CARING FOR STUDENTS WITH DIABETES

Many students with Diabetes Mellitus attend Foothill Horizons every year. The week at
outdoor school is a fantastic time for students to learn about science, self-reliance, and
cooperation with others. Parents of diabetic students should be aware, however, that
most students will have a higher than normal activity level while at Foothill Horizons
and that their diet and bedtime may be different than at home. Here are a few
guidelines for ensuring that your diabetic student’s week at outdoor school is a safe and
positive experience:

• Foothill Horizons staff cannot administer insulin injections. Students with Diabetes
must be able to administer their own insulin and test their blood glucose level. If the
student needs assistance with insulin administration, you will need to arrange for a
parent, parent designee not employed by the school, a licensed vocational nurse,
registered nurse, or credentialed school nurse to administer insulin. In an emergency
situation, staff is trained to administer injectable glucagon.

• A designated naturalist serves as the health coordinator and this position rotates
weekly. This person is not a school nurse. The health coordinator will need the
information about the diabetic student. Parents should attach this information to the
student’s health form:
1. How long has the student been monitoring his/her blood glucose level?

2. What is a “normal” blood glucose reading for the student?

3. Has the student recently changed insulin dosage?

4. Has the student been running high/low before coming to outdoor school?

5. What is the student’s normal activity level?

6. How often does the student usually eat? When does she/he snack?

7. Does the student usually have a bedtime/nighttime snack?

8. Will the parent be providing snacks while the student is at outdoor school? What is
    a normal snack for the student?

9. Under what circumstances should we contact you?

• We follow the P.E.D.S. (Pediatric Education on Diabetes in Schools: Diabetes Care At
School Guide) www.pedsonline.org. We contact parents if blood glucose is less than 70
and notify when blood glucose levels are high according to the Parent Consent and
Physician’s Authorization for Management of Diabetes at School and School Sponsored
Events. This form is available at the above web site. Please have your care provider
complete this form and attach to the Outdoor Education forms. Contact your school
nurse if you need assistance or cannot download a form.

• It is imperative that the Director, Pam Ivie, has advance information about the
diabetic students who plan to attend Foothill Horizons to best accommodate and plan
for their needs so that the outdoor education experience will be safe and positive for the
student. Therefore, a written Individualized School Health Care Plan and an
Emergency Care Plan developed by the school nurse, parent, physician, and student
must be written by the school site school nurse prior to the student’s arrival and
forwarded or faxed to Pam Ivie, Director.

• Shortly after the student’s arrival at outdoor school, the health coordinator will meet
individually with the student to discuss his/her treatment plan while at outdoor school.
He/she will review the above information, and ensure that the student knows when
and how to administer insulin and check blood glucose levels. She/he will also discuss
with the kitchen staff any special dietary needs.

• The health coordinator will keep careful records each time the student administers
insulin or checks blood sugar levels. The student’s classroom teacher, naturalist, and
counselor will be aware of the time when the student needs to take medication, test
blood glucose, and eat snacks, and any other special needs or concerns regarding the
individual student. Parents should feel free to call Foothill Horizons between 8:00 a.m.
and 9:30 p.m. to talk with the health coordinator about their child. Due to the busy
schedule and variety of activities in which students participate, parents who wish to
speak directly with their child will need to arrange a specific time with Foothill
Horizons staff.