Health Services » Health Services

Health Services

Students coming to school health rooms for injuries and illnesses are cared for by staff trained in health room procedures and First Aid/CPR. Centralia School District trained staff include five part-time health room assistants, one full-time and two part-time school district nurses (RNs). The district nurse's role is to supervise the health room and ensure the health and safety of students. Other district nurse responsibilities include, but are not limited to: performing health assessments, training staff in administering medications, providing health education, and assisting parents/guardians with identifying and accessing appropriate medical services for their child. Health room assistants provide hands-on care to students that come to the health room with illness and/or injury, and notify the district nurse of any urgent needs.

LIFE THREATENING HEALTH CONDITIONS

Washington state law requires all students with a potential life threatening health condition to have a current health care plan in place on or before the first day of school attendance. Parents/guardians of children with potential life threatening health conditions are to fill out a Student Medical History form, complete with a working telephone number they can be reached at by the district. This form can be picked up at any school office, or it can be mailed to you. This information aids the district nurse nurse and parent/guardian in developing a health care plan for their child. Severe allergies, severe asthma, diabetes, or a severe seizure disorder are some examples of potential life threatening health conditions. Hopefully, your child will not experience a life threatening event at school, but if they should, their health care plan lets district personnel know the procedures you and your doctor want followed. Pertinent health care plan information may be shared, on a need-to-know basis, with other district personnel involved in your child's education. If you have any questions, you may phone your child's school and request a return phone call from the district nurse. Please remember to notify your child's school with any changes in the names and/or phone numbers of emergency contacts for your child.

MEDICATIONS

Medications should be given to students at home whenever possible. For legal and safety reasons, medications given to students at school must be: 1) brought to school by a parent/guardian in their original container, and 2) accompanied by a medication authorization form signed by the student's parent/guardian and prescriber (physician, dentist, ARNP, etc). Complete instructions should be on both the medication authorization form and medication bottle. There is no difference between a medication that requires a prescription or one that is bought over-the-counter. Both require a medication authorization form.

IMMUNIZATIONS

Washington state law requires all students have on file, or have their parent/guardian present, documentation of their immunization status on or before the first day of school attendance. Immunization forms must show the month, day and year all required immunizations were received. Forms are available at all school offices. Students may visit their local health care provider for required immunizations.