Health Information – Immunizations
The State of Colorado requires evidence of immunization for school enrollment. A child entering school must meet the requirements for each vaccine, or have a signed Statement of Exemption. A child will be denied entry into school until this information is provided.
Allergies and Food Intolerances
The school should be informed of any student who has a serious known allergy that could endanger his/her life, especially to bee stings, food, or medication that causes severe or life threatening reactions. In the case of intolerance to milk or other foods, the Federal Hot Lunch Program requires a physician’s note if the food or milk is not to be served to your child.
Medications
Parents should be encouraged to have the student’s medication given at times other than school hours. Only when necessary will the school assume the responsibility of administering prescribed medication. If medication must be administered during school hours, please fill out the Division Students Services form at the end of the student handbook.
If a parent sends medication to school requesting that the school give it, and the aforementioned form is not completed, the school nurse is the only one who can call the physician/nurse practitioner and take a verbal order over the phone. The parent must submit the completed form before any further doses will be given at school.
The medication supplied by the parent/guardian must be in the bottle dispensed by a pharmacy. The pharmacy label must include: student’s name, name of medication, how often the medication is to be given, the dosage, and when appropriate, the date the medication is to be stopped.
The proper disposal of unused medication is important. It is the responsibility of the parent to retrieve all unused medication from the school when the medication is discontinued, the school year ends, or the family transfers to another district. All medication left in the school will be disposed of by the school nurse.
An appropriate record of all medication dispersed by school personnel shall be documented and filed in the students health record.
Emergency Medical Care
Emergency information cards for all students shall be completed each year by parents or guardians of all students at the time of enrollment and shall be on file in school offices. Whenever a situation requires additional attention beyond first aid measures given at school, references on the emergency cards should be contacted. When no adult listed on the emergency card can be reached or if such urgent care is needed that the time does not permit several telephone calls, the staff member in charge shall dial 911 and request the Denver City and County Fire Rescue Squad, give name and address of the school building, and state if an ambulance is needed.
The fire rescue squad in the immediate area shall respond to the emergency call and if an ambulance has been requested it shall be sent from the Denver Health and Hospitals. The injured or ill person may be taken to the closest hospital emergency room. A Denver Public Schools employee should accompany the student if the parent/guardian is not present.