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Medicine
at School / Illness
Medication / Illness
The district requires a written request from a physician or other health care professional with authority to write prescriptions to administer approved nonprescription or homeopathic medication, herbal substances or dietary supplements when such medications, substances or dietary supplements are to be administered for more than ten (10) consecutive school days.
Any prescription or over the counter medication that must be administered
during school hours must be accompanied by a written request from
a parent/guardian. For student safety, all medications should be
transported to and from school by a parent/guardian. All medications
must be in their original, properly-labeled container. A physician's
order must accompany any medication that will be kept in the school
clinic for more than ten (10) consecutive days.
Parents/guardians are required to send a note for students who
will not be participating in physical education classes due to an
illness or injury. This note will be accepted for up to five (5) consecutive
days. Longer non-participation will require a physician's written
excuse.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe allergic reaction. The most dangerous symptoms include breathing difficulties, a drop in blood pressue or shock. Common examples of potentially life threatening allergies are those to food or stinging insect. Other allergic reactions may also occur to medications, latex or while exercising. The emergency treatment is epinephrine, which is usually supplied in epi-pens. Plano ISD has developed guidelines to manage students with these life threatening allergies, so that they may safely participate in the educational process. Students who are at risk for developing anaphylaxis are entitled to carry and self-administer their anaphylaxis medications (epi-pens) while at school or a school event, if they have met the legal requirements below: The medication and the self-administration must be authorized by a physician or licensed health care provider. The student must demonstrate to the physician, other health care provider and to the school nurse, if available, the skill level necessary to self-administer the medication. Plano ISD has developed an Allergy Action Plan that has the components of the legal requirements included within it. Please contact your school nurse before enrollment or at the start of the new school year, to obtain all the proper paper work needed that will help ensure the safety of your student with an allergy.
Food Allergy (including, but not limited to, peanut allergy)
Plano ISD food allergy management plans will be individualized to all students who have food allergies. Once notified of the student's allergy, a working partnership with students, parents, student's physician, school nurse and other Plano ISD personnel, as appropriate, begins the foundation for the development of an individual health plan (IHP). Upon receipt of signed medical plans and parental consent, the IHP is developed. The first to be addressed is the emergency response. This ensures that a team of at least three (3) principal-designated staff members, daily working with the affected student, are trained to recognize an allergic reaction, have the rescue drugs readily available and quickly treat the student. This will include training of these staff members, at least annually, or more frequently, as the school nurse deems. The emergency response team in each school drills every semester to hone their response skills. In the case of severe life threatening allergies, the school principal will collaborate with the school nurse to send letters to other parents of the class requesting parents to voluntarily refrain from sending the allergen food in their child's belongings during school or for after-school activities, celebrations or parties. Depending on physical constraints within the school, the principal may designate a food-allergy friendly area or lunch table. The Food and Nutritional service department in collaboration with the parents and school nurse will follow their policy for medical documentation for meal substitution, when applicable. Also, site-based Food Service Managers will flag the child's account through the point-of-sale system. Hand washing guidelines to staff and students are enforced. The custodial department will be instructed to use commercial wipes and cleaners that remove the allergent from the hard surfaces. Non-food items will be adapted in curriculum for those classes who have students with food allergies. The transportation department will also be notified, and trained to recognize the specific reactions to life threatening allergies, if applicable. While Plano ISD cannot guarantee an allergy-free environment at school, the district is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the safety of every child who has allergies.
Asthma Care
The 77th Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 1688, which amends
the Education Code to entitle a student with asthma to possess and
self-administer prescription asthma medication while on school property
or at a school-related event or activity. The bill specified the
conditions under which a student is entitled to possess and self-administer
asthma medication. If a physician feels it is medically necessary
for a student with asthma to carry and self-administer prescription
asthma medication, the student must have on file in the school nurse's
office an Asthma Action Plan form provided by the State of Texas.
This form can be obtained from the school nurse. The Asthma Action
Plan must be filled out each year by the student's prescribing physician
and must be signed by both the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian.
Medical Emergencies
Each campus must have a written parental consent or emergency card
on file in the event a student has a medical emergency at school or a
school-related activity and the parent/guardian cannot be reached.
Parents/guardians should include information about pre-existing medical
conditions, allergies, and medications, etc. on that card.
Parents/guardians are required to complete and sign an emergency card each year, keep emergency care information up-to-date (ie: emergency
phone numbers, allergies, name of doctor, etc.), and contact the school
nurse to update information.
Each school has at least one (1) automated external defibrillator (AED), and a five (5) member emergency response team. The team has a drill at least once a semester. Each AED is equipped with both adult and pediatric electrode pads.
Diabetes Care
The Plano ISD requires the following forms be signed by the
parent/guardian for all students seeking diabetes care while at school:
1) Diabetes Medical Management Plan, signed by the student’s physician, and 2) district medication forms for use of insulin, glucagons,
glucose tablets/gels, etc.
House Bill No. 984 (Care of the Student with Diabetes) enacted in 2005,
specifies that each school train one (1) unlicensed diabetes care assistant
(UDAC), if a full-time nurse is assigned to the school. In order to protect
the safety and health of students, the Plano ISD has chosen to have a
minimum of three (3) UDACs trained at each campus, in addition to the
nurse. Training of the UDACs is provided under the supervision of a
health care professional with expertise in the care of persons with diabetes.
The UDACs will provide diabetes management and care services,
if the nurse is unavailable. Such services include, but are not limited to,
the administration of insulin, or in an emergency, the administration of
glucagon. A student’s parent/guardian is required to provide all necessary
supplies/food for the student with diabetes.
The Plano ISD requires a student’s parent/guardian to sign an
Authorization for Administration of Diabetes Management and Care
Services by Unlicensed Diabetes Care Assistant form. If the student’s parent/guardian chooses not to sign the form, the parent/guardian will
be responsible for administration of the diabetes care, in the event the
school nurse is not available.
In addition, a Quick Reference Emergency Plan (QREP), completed by
the school nurse and the student’s parent/guardian, will be provided to
district employees who are responsible for providing transportation for,
or supervision of, a student during an off-campus activity. The QREP
identifies the student with diabetes, the potential emergencies that may
occur and provides the telephone numbers of contact persons in case of
an emergency.
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