Southern York County School District offers in-school nursing services to students and staff in accordance with state law and board policy. State regulated health screenings, emergency services, first aid, and mental health services are administered by qualified personnel. Medications are dispensed to students as needed in accordance with Board Policy #210 and the Health Policies and Standing Orders Manual.  

Health offices are staffed by Pennsylvania certified school nurses, registered nurses, and practical nurses.  Members of our nursing staff sit on advisory boards, health and safety boards, school steering committees, student assistance teams, and other committees as needed.  They attend in-house training programs, seminars, and conference to maintain skills and and knowledge.

Taking Medication During School Hours

Medication will be administered to students requiring dosing during regular school hours under certain conditions.  Whether medication is to be given daily for the entire school year or only in emergency conditions (i.e. a bee sting), written doctors' orders and written parent permission must be provided and renewed at the beginning of each school year.

In accordance with the District's Health Policies and Standing Orders, all medication - prescription and non-prescription - except cough drops, must be delivered to the health room by the child's parent, guardian, or other responsible adult in the elementary schools. Secondary students may bring a week's worth of medications.  All medication must be in the original container and labeled with the student's name.  

School personnel may refuse to give medication if parents fail to comply with this policy.  Please contact health room staff if there any questions about dispensing medication at school.

First Aid Treatment
In cases of emergency, illness or accident, first aid treatment shall be administered by qualified school personnel to the following extent:

• First aid in the school is limited to first treatment only.
• No diagnosis is made, and no medication given.
• Emergencies shall be treated which require help in matters of minutes, such as: uncontrolled hemorrhage; extreme chest conditions, as stoppage of breathing; extended period of unconsciousness; burns covering ten percent (10%) or more of the body; snake or insect bites; extensive eye injuries.

Additional information about authorized first aid procedures are described in Board Policy #210 and the District Health Policies and Standing Orders Manual.

Immunization

In order to safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the Board requires all students to be immunized against certain diseases in accordance with State statutes, unless specifically exempt for religious or medical reasons.

|No student shall be admitted to school for the first time who has not been immunized against such diseases as are enumerated by the Advisory Health Board and in the manner directed by the Secretary of Health.

When pupils are known to have been exposed to a communicable disease, the principal shall have the authority to consult with a physician concerning excluding the pupil(s) from school for the incubation period of the particular disease, or to follow other requirements of the regulations of the State Department of Health.

Contagious Disease
Pupils who are sent home by the school nurse or doctor are to be excluded until such time as they are completely well.  When a pupil has been excluded because of any contagious disease, s/he shall be readmitted only upon a written statement submitted by the school nurse, family physician, or the school doctor.

Allergy Classroom Information for Parents:
Please click on the link for the Guide to Safe Snacks for the Classroom with Allergies
http://snacksafely.com/safe-snack-guide/