Letter from Nurse D'Arcy 9.20.2024

8/28/2024 1:23 pm

• Medication Forms:
  • Good news is the Health & Medical pages online are updated for most of your health and medical needs. Link here. 
  • Additionally, to protect your child’s safety, the school registered nurse must legally adhere to the following medication policy.
    • It is required that BOTH parent AND physician’s signatures be on file before any medication administration. Although this may cause some inconvenience, this policy is best for the continued protection of your child’s safety and therefore must be followed.
    • If we do not have written permission and the written permission of your physician, the medication will not be given. Permission forms are found on our website and can be obtained by contacting the school office.
    • For your child to receive any medication at school, please follow below medication policy:
      • If medication is for food allergy and/or asthma then Action/Care plans will need to be submitted with a Medication Consent form
      • Administration consent form must be completed and signed by physician, parent, or legal guardian. No verbal consent or phone consent will be accepted -New permission forms must be re-submitted each school year and are necessary for any changes in medication orders
      • Over the counter medications (OTC) are required to be filled out and signed by physician and parent/guardian annually. No OTC medications will be administered without written consent
      • Prescription medication must be in the original container with the pharmacy label. The container must have a proper label with the name of the patient, the name of the medicine and the dosage
      • Over the counter medications must be in original container
      • Only students with written authorization from their physician and parents are allowed to self-carry medications
      • Medication will be kept in a secure place in the health clinic during school hours. No medication shall be held in classrooms or backpacks at any time. Any medications brought in by students or found in a student’s possession will be taken to the clinic
      • Medication that is expired will not be administered to students past the indicated date
• Safety News:
  • Wharton Dual Language Academy has at least one functional Automated External Defibrillator (AED) located in an easy to access place on each floor, with five AED machines total in the school in case an emergency arises.
  • Regarding medical emergencies, I am Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and AED certified and numerous staff members (more than required) voluntarily obtained their CPR/AED certification this month. We all hope for the best but are prepared for the worst.
• Weather/Pollen Updates:
  • Per the Houston Chronicle, daily highs in the mid-90s aka heat worsens ragweed pollen production this month. Late season heat prompts ragweed plants to produce more allergenic pollen, and in turn, you may notice you and/or your loved ones are dealing with more itchy eyes, sniffling and sneezes.
  • Over-the-counter antihistamines and analgesics usually help but please seek care from a licensed medical provider if signs or symptoms worsen.
• COVID-19 strain XEC:
  • An emerging COVID-19 strain, XEC, has been detected in 12 U.S. states and at least 15 countries, including Texas. The CDC has not reported if XEC is more severe than other variants but infectious disease specialists predict it will have higher transmissibility than other strains.
  • Please continue to practice hand hygiene, wear a mask if showing signs/symptoms of illness and be mindful of the most vulnerable populations (i.e. immunocompromised such as elderly, newborns, pregnant women, and individuals suffering from cancer, to name a few).
  • H.I.S.D. Guidelines for COVID-19 can be found here.
• Blood Bank Donation Drive:
  • September 24, 2024 2:30 PM-7:00 PM
  • Sign up here.

Nurse D’Arcy