School Health Services

Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services Mission:

Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services is dedicated to supporting the academic success of children and youth through health promotion, education and child advocacy. School Health Services nursing staff are an extension of Akron Children’s Hospital in the school community. We promote and advocate for student health and wellness in school. We help manage patient populations and individual student health needs in the school setting.

Meet The Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services Rootstown Team:

Health Guidelines for School Attendance:

Do not send your child to school if any of the following symptoms or conditions were present in the last 24 hours. You may be asked to take your child home if your child:

• Has a fever of 100 degrees or higher. Student may return to school when the temperature returns to normal (98.6) for 24 hours without the help of medication.
• Has been vomiting and/or diarrhea. If your child has two or more episodes during the previous evening or night, they may not attend school. Call your child’s healthcare provider if symptoms continue for more than 48 hours, your child has a fever or his/her condition worsens. Diapered children can return to school after diarrhea when stool is contained in the diaper, stool may remain loose.
• Has a rash. May return to school after a medical evaluation has determined it not to be communicable.
• Has untreated infected skin patches that have weeping fluid and are on an exposed surface that cannot be covered with a waterproof dressing. Preschool requires exclusion of untreated infected skin patches per preschool regulations.
• Has bacterial infection. Your child may return to school after taking prescribed antibiotics for 24 hours.
• Has thick mucus or pus draining from the eye(s) (pink eye), call your health care provider for guidance if your child can remain in school. If antibiotics are prescribed, the child must be on the medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Has Lice. Contact your school health clinic to review the school district lice policy.
• Has Scabies or other parasite infections.
• Has been prescribed narcotics and is currently taking them. Students are not permitted to take narcotics while at school. The student should return to school once their pain can be controlled by Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.
• Has any sick symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school. Examples include, but are not limited to:
  • Excessive tiredness, pale, difficult to wake, confused or irritable, lack of appetite
  • Productive coughing, sneezing, continuous coughing
  • Headache, body aches, earache, sore throat
  • Has any sick symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school.

A minor sore throat is usually not a problem, but a severe sore throat could be strep even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset. Contact your healthcare provider as your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat.

Colds can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and expose others unnecessarily to illness.

Medication Administration In The School Setting:

Akron Children’s Hospital School Health Services strongly urges parents to give their children their medications at home whenever possible. If it is necessary for your child to take medications at school, the following guidelines must be followed:

1. If a student needs a prescription medication, an order from their doctor and signature by a parent is required. The “Prescription Medication Administered at School” form is available on our website or in the school clinic. Parents must have the form completed and bring in the medications to the school. Please do not send medications in with students. All medications must be in the original container, clearly labeled with the student’s first and last name, dosage, times or intervals that the medication is to be given and not expired.
2. If your student needs over the counter or non-prescription medication including but not limited to: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Tums, cough drops, topical creams, Orajel, or eye drops, a “Non-Prescription Medication Administered in the School” form is required. Parents must bring the form and medication to the school, do not send medication in with a student. All medications must be in the original container, have clear administration instructions and be an appropriate dose for the student’s age. The container must also contain an expiration date. Expired medications will not be accepted.
3. New forms must be submitted at the beginning of each school year and when any changes are made to medication, dosage or time medication is to be given.

Health Concerns:

Please be sure to update Final Forms on the district website with any new or existing health concerns your child may have. If your child has diabetes, asthma, a bee sting allergy, severe food allergy or seizure disorder please complete the required “Action Plan” paperwork. This paperwork will help all school personnel prepare for your child’s health needs. If your child’s medical condition requires a specific accommodation in the school setting please contact the District Nurse.

Vision Screening

Vision screenings will be completed for students in grades K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th. Vision screenings will also be completed on any new students in the district regardless of grade level. You will receive notification only if your student does not pass any part of the screening. This is a screening and should not replace a yearly visit to an optometrist for a complete eye exam.

Immunizations