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Nurse's Desk
Educational Support » Health Services » Health Services

Health Services

Students who become ill or injured during the day are to report to the Health Office. If it is necessary to send the student home, the Nurse or Health Aide will notify the parent and will be excused upon the arrival of the parent. No student will be allowed to leave the building without a parent or parent designee escort who has signed the Family Emergency Card. The designated person will then be required to sign the child out of the school in the school office.
 
In order to ensure the best care for your student, please keep emergency contact phone numbers current throughout the year.
 
Feel free to contact the health offices to up date any pertinent health information concerning your student.
 
District Nurse: Christine Lebar RN, BSN, PEL-CSN 
Brook Park Health Aide: Najia Singh
S.E. Gross Health Aides: Mina Safi
Illinois law requires all students entering early childhood, kindergarten, and 6th grade have a complete physical and immunizations, which are current. In order for students to start school, the physical and immunization information must be on file in the school. If the child is not in compliance by the 1st day of school attendance, he/she WILL be excluded from school until such time as the parent presents proof of having had the health examination and necessary immunizations. Transfer students must also have this requirement met BEFORE starting school.
 
Illinois law requires all students in kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grades turn in proof of a dental examination by May 15th of each school year. The school dental examination must have been completed within 18 months of the May 15th deadline.
 
Illinois law states that children entering kindergarten or registering for the first time in an Illinois public, private or parochial school must complete an eye examination by an eye care professional and show proof on or before October 15th of the school year.
 
If you need copies of the physical/immunization form, the dental form, or the vision examination form and you have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader, you can download them from the links below, and have them completed by your physician, dentist, or eye doctor.
A student is not permitted to have prescription or non-prescription medication in his/her possession. The only exception, with necessary paperwork on file, is asthma medication (inhaler) and epi pen. Upon entering the building, all medication, both prescription and non-prescription, shall be given to the health office personnel. All medication MUST include written instructions from a licensed medical doctor explaining the administration of the medication. Students with a diagnosis of asthma requiring an inhaler must have a completed asthma action plan completed by physician on file. This form is available at school or on the district’s website. NO medication will be given to any student without a perscription for medication from a licensed medical doctor. No exceptions will be made. The nurse, health aide, principal or designee must dispense all medication. The only exception is when the student is off school premises at an approved field trip. At that time the student’s teacher may dispense the medication. The person dispensing the medication shall follow the specific written instructions of the licensed medical doctor.
All students who plan to participate in interscholastic sports MUST have a sports physical, which must be less than one year old and concussion consent form on file in the health office. The sports physical must be less than one year old and on file BEFORE tryouts.

Phase One: Complete Rest with no school/cognitive rest

Symptom Severity
Severe symptoms at rest that may include; headaches, dizziness, pressure in head and nausea, photosensitivity, auditory sensitivity, inability to focus, memory difficulties, feeling mentally foggy, fatigue, or mood changes.
 
Interventions
  • No school (usually 2-4 days but may last more than one week depending on individual cases).
  • Initial evaluation by primary care physician (Not ER physician).
  • No PE or athletic participation (including practices and attending athletic events).
  • Avoid activities that exacerbate symptoms including reading, video games, computer use, texting, television, and loud music.
  • No tests, quizzes, or homework.
  • Teachers may provide students with copies of class notes that are teacher or student generated.
 
Students may progress to Stage Two when
  • They experience decreased sensitivity to light/noise.
  • They experience decreased intensity and frequency of headaches and dizziness.
  • They have the ability to do light reading for 10 minutes without increase in symptoms.
  • They experience decreased feeling of fogginess or confusion
 

Phase Two: Part-Time School Attendance with Accommodations

Symptom Severity
Symptoms have decreased to manageable levels; symptoms may be exacerbated by certain mental activities that are complex or long in duration. Students may do cognitive activities but only for short periods of time (5-15 minutes) and need frequent breaks to rest.
 
Treatment
Re-introduction to school. Students should avoid tasks that trigger or worsen symptoms. In this phase students focus on making sure they can tolerate the school environment without worsening symptoms. The student should focus on sitting in class and listening to instructions (no note taking or reading). Once the student is able to tolerate this task they may try short intervals of cognitive work per class (5-15 minutes).
 
Interventions
  • Part time school attendance (alternating half days with morning and afternoon classes) repeating as symptoms warrant.
  • No PE or athletic participation (may attend practice or PE class without participation).
  • Report daily to the School Nurse for concussion symptoms assessment checklist.
  • Limit or eliminate screen time (computers and phones), reading or other visual stimuli depending on symptoms.
  • Teacher will provide copies of class notes (teacher or student generated).
  • Homework load based on symptoms with no due dates on homework assignments.
  • Rest in the Health Office for breaks between academic classes as needed.
  • Reduce weight of backpack.
  • Leave class 5 minutes early to avoid noisy and crowded hallways.
 
Student may progress to Stage Three when
  • School activity does not increase symptoms.
  • Overall symptoms continue to decrease.
 

Phase Three: Full Day Attendance with Accommodations

Symptoms
Symptoms are decreased in number and severity. Student may have intervals when they are symptoms free. Symptoms may still be exacerbated by certain activities.
 
Treatment
As the student improves gradually increase demands on the brain by increasing the length of time and difficulty of academic requirements as long as it does not cause worsening of symptoms.
 
Interventions
  • Report daily to the School Nurse for concussion symptoms assessment checklist.
  • Prioritize assignments, tests, and projects.
  • Limit student to one test per day with extra time to complete tests and allow for breaks depending on symptom severity.
  • Gradually increase the amount of homework.
  • Reported symptoms will be addressed by specific accommodations.
  • No PE or athletic participation (may attend practice or PE class without participation).
  • May continue with interventions listed in stage two if needed.
 
Student may progress to Stage Four when
  • They are symptom free with cognitive and physical rest.
 

Stage Four: Full Day Attendance without Accommodations

Symptoms
Students may report no symptoms or may experience mild intermittent symptoms.
 
Treatment
Accommodations will be removed when student can participate fully in academic work at school and at home without triggering symptoms.
 
Interventions
  • Report daily to School Nurse for concussion symptoms assessment checklist.
  • For athletes Return to Play protocol will begin.
  • Resume full academic responsibilities when symptoms have completely resolved as determined by primary care physician and provide a copy of physician report/orders to School Nurse. School Nurse will notify teachers.
  • Create a plan for possible modifications and gradual completion of required make up work.
  • Written clearance for full participation will be required from the primary care physician for return to PE participation.
 
Follow-up
  • The School Nurse will conduct a follow up assessment with the student on week after returning to full time academic and athletic activity.
  • The student is encouraged to meet with teachers to discuss progress, homework, and make up work.
  • The student is encouraged to meet with School Nurse if they experience any recurring symptoms.
  • Written clearance for full participation will be required from the primary care physician to begin physical activity.
  • Five phases of physical activity with increasing intensity, each phase will take place 24 hours following the previous step. If symptoms return during any phase a 24-hour period rest is required before repeating that phase.

    • Stage One: Light aerobic activity.

    • Stage Two: Increased aerobic activity.

    • Stage Three: Non-Contact activity related to specific sport.

    • Stage Four: Full contact activity in practice.

    • Stage Five: Return to competition.

  • For student athletes this protocol will be performed under the supervision of their coach.